Wolf Mountain Peak Complete Series, page 43
part #1 of Wolf Mountain Peak Series
“God, it’s huge…” she moaned, squeezing her eyes shut, as his cock delved deeper, stretching her inner walls. Joe curled his hands around her upper thighs, and pulled her closer, her warm, wet pussy clenching around him, as she took every inch of his length deep inside her. The wolf within was purring with satisfaction, licking her lips, reveling in the moment. She had enticed him, conquered him, and knocked his defenses down, like no other had in a while. Melissa was swelling with pride. With every thrust, her body felt like it was glowing from the inside out, as the sensation pulsed stronger. She struggled to focus her blurry eyes on the ridges of his cut abs, her moans audible over his grunts, as his muscles flexed with every pump of his cock. Sadly though, he didn’t allow her to stare at him for more than just a few seconds. Joe circled his hips hard, thrusting into her, forcing her to cry out with pleasure, as she tossed her head back. It was perfect, in every imaginable way. He was sliding in and out of her, hard and fast, quenching her desire, his attention lingering on her breasts, as they bounced up and down.
“Amazing,” he grunted, bringing a smug smile to her lips, as he reached down towards her breasts. A deeper groan escaped her, as he cupped them. Joe pressed them together, his thumbs brushing her nipples, as she cried out with pleasure. Watching the ripple of his muscles was not enough anymore. His face was so much closer, and for Melissa, a glimpse of the desire in his eyes was a much better aphrodisiac. Raising her arms, she gripped the back of his head, and pulled him down, as he bucked into her harder. She raked her nails against his skin, molten ecstasy rippling through her, as their eyes met. Joe’s stone-blue irises had darkened in the dim illumination, assuming an opaque shade. Melissa attempted to keep her focus on him, but the sensation of his delicious penetration was so overwhelming that she closed her eyes against how good it felt to have him plowing away inside her.
“Yeah, baby!” She moaned, throwing her head back, her pussy muscles flexing around his shaft, as Joe’s vigorous strokes catapulted her into a tremendous orgasm that had her body quivering with pleasure. Before the waves of her climax could subside, she could feel his cock pulsing inside her, harder than before. Joe pulled out, grabbing the base of his soaking wet manhood, just before his juices erupted out of him. Panting for breath, he released it at once, and gripped Melissa by the wrists, as a sweet smile spread across his face.
“A drink, huh?” He teased, pulling her towards him.
“Yeah,” she chirped, gazing into his eyes, as she breathed heavily on his skin. “What, you didn’t like it?”
“I loved it,” Joe confessed, assuming a more serious tone. “I wish I didn’t have to leave.”
“Then stay,” Melissa whispered, laying a quick kiss on his chin.
“I can’t,” he said as he shook his head sideways, and a wave of disappointment washed over his face. “I canceled on a major client, just to get here tonight. I rescheduled our appointment for tomorrow morning at nine.”
“Is this how it’s going to be from now on?” She wondered, a touch of anger in her tone.
“No,” he reassured, sliding his hands up her forearms, “of course not. It’s going to be hard with the distance and all, but I will find time for you. My last appointment tomorrow is at 2:30pm. I’ll try to get rid of him, and come back to you, ASAP. I promise.”
“Ok, Mister.” Melissa said with a smile. “Call me, before you leave New York.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Joe whispered, moving his lips over to her cheek. He kissed her on the cheek, as a feeling of sorrow struck her. They wouldn’t spend the night together. However, she didn’t mind; at least not as much as she initially believed. Melissa had accomplished her goal. She had moved him. For a man who was so easily influenced by his emotions, this was vital. More nights of passion lay ahead. She just had to be patient.
Chapter Eleven
Joe’s fruity scent was still lingering in the air, when Melissa pried her eyelids open, the following morning. It might not have been as pungent as a few hours earlier, but it still surrounded her, vividly reminding her of their passionate encounter; the memory painting a smile on her face while she lay in bed. As she swiped her finger over the screen of her cell phone, the incoming message from Joe broadened that smile.
“Just got back to Manhattan. The taste of your lips is still in my mouth. Shouldn’t have left. Thank you for believing me, Melissa. It really means a lot to me. Can’t wait to take you in my arms again.”
Melissa rolled out of bed, impatient to reveal to her friends what had transpired. Still, as she took a quick look at herself in the bathroom mirror, she discovered that she wouldn’t really have to say much to them. Indeed, she was glowing. The truth was written all over her face. Nevertheless, she had to update them on Helena’s intentions. They all had to know about this development.
Melissa descended the stairs, casting a glance over at the couch, as Joe’s statement flashed into her mind.
“I couldn’t care less.”
“You accepted me as I am. I did the same for you.” She thought to herself, sliding the kitchen window open. But, just as she completed that sentence, a wave of frustration flooded through her veins. Yes, Melissa had revealed her nature to him, but, she had failed to let him know about the weakness that claimed the lives of her father, her grandfather, and nearly killed her two brothers: her fragile heart. In a matter of seconds though, she was compelled to reconsider. Joe was made aware of the basics. Why should she ramble on about something that would definitely bewilder him? More than that, why should she inform him of one of the – very few – things that could harm her? She liked him, she admired him; yet, it was too early to share that kind of information with him.
Melissa grabbed her red coffee jar, and pulled the lid off. Unfortunately however, she would not get to enjoy a cup of coffee that morning, not yet at least. Heavy, hurried footsteps forced her to tear her gaze away from the jar. Raul blurred past her window. In the blink of an eye, he grabbed the doorknob, and stormed into her cabin. As a matter of fact, he used so much force that her front door flew open, and then hit the door behind it. The skin on his face was pulled tight with tension, as his chest heaved.
“Damn it, Mel, what the hell did you do?” Raul’s stentorian voice rumbled like thunder, as he narrowed his eyes at her. “Our whole goddamn yard smells like cherries. What did you do, spray him all over the place?”
“What I do with my life is my own business, not yours,” Melissa retorted, her tone calm and steady, as she folded her arms across her chest.
“That is exactly my point!” She recognized Monica’s voice, but, it was way more high-pitched than usual, as she strode into her cabin, exhaling hard. Apparently, she had been chasing her mate. “Good morning, Melissa. Helena was just in our cabin. She told us about your meeting with that…”
“Douche bag,” Raul finished her sentence, putting his hands on his waist, “touched by the devil himself; cursed; doomed; take your pick; they all apply.”
“Do they?” Melissa asked, raising a sarcastic brow.
“Yes!” Raul gave an emphatic nod, leaning over her.
“Ok, then imagine this,” Melissa urged, assuming a stiffer tone, maintaining eye contact with him. “Let’s say that Monica dies. You’re hurting: desperate. Some guy shows up, and promises to take away that pain. On top of that, he says he’ll make you a star at your job. What would you do?”
“I’d wait for my death,” he lowered his voice, as his face became less tight. “But, this isn’t about me. Can you imagine the danger the whole town is going to be in if your boy pisses off the demon?”
“Excuse me?” Monica squeaked, spinning left to face him. “Did I you hear you correctly? Did you just say ‘danger’?”
“I did,” Raul gave a quick nod, turning to her. “Have you thought about that?”
“Stop being so hypocritical, my Alpha,” Monica grumbled, her tone firm, as she threw a fierce glare up at him. “You were the first to bring danger to Paxton, by pursuing me. You and your brothers were ready to take on the entire pack, just because you wanted to date me. Dean gambled his life by fighting against a terrible witch like Marianne. You cannot judge Melissa, Raul. You don’t have that right.”
“We’re not talking about an unsavory Alpha here,” Raul declared, as his voice deepened. “We’re not dealing with a frustrated witch, either: forget battles; forget witchcraft. That demon could bring the apocalypse here.”
“That may well be, but I still have faith in Helena,” Monica went on, retaining the same firmness in her tone, completely undeterred by his statement. “She will find the answer. Please; give us the room.”
“I’ll see you later, Mel,” he murmured, tipping his head at his sister, as he made his way towards her door.
“That was some speech,” Melissa commented, her voice filled with admiration, as her brother slammed her door shut. “Thank you.”
“I was just stating the obvious. You don’t need to thank me,” Monica said to Melissa, her tone mellow, as she took two, short steps towards her sister-in-law. “You know your brother. He’s only looking out for you. However, he does tend to forget his own…” she paused, “…reckless behavior. Can I ask you something?”
“Of course,” Melissa encouraged.
“What do you see in this man?” Monica asked, as her face twitched with curiosity. “Ok; obviously, he’s very handsome, but that’s not the only reason you insist on dating him, is it?”
“No, it isn’t,” Melissa replied, her cheeks flushing, as a smile of embarrassment burst upon her lips. “I grew up in a pack; you know the fact of that, doc. However, Shifters can be very crude. At first, I found those nasty comments about my looks entertaining. You know: ‘nice tits’; ‘great ass’;… they were funny for a period of time. Naturally, I got tired of them. None of those idiots seemed to be in touch with their emotions. Joe is just that; in touch with how he feels. I saw it in the cemetery. I saw it at his sister’s house and last night. He’s not afraid to show what he feels inside.”
“That’s good to know,” Monica gave a polite smile, interlocking her fingers over her stomach. “Anyway, Helena wants to see you and Dean tonight. She said she has some new information about Joe. She’ll be waiting for you at Clover Lake.”
“Joe is coming over later today. Do you think I should bring him, too?” Melissa inquired, putting just a little force in her voice.
“I wouldn’t do that, if I were you,” Monica replied truthfully. “She doesn’t like him very much. Plus, she might not want him to hear what she has to say.”
“Then, I’ll ask him to wait for me in my cabin. Dean and I will be there,” Melissa assured her Alpha’s wife with a nod. “Thanks again, doc.”
Chapter Twelve
Melissa spent the entire day waiting for a phone call or a text message from Joe. Much to her disappointment, though, he didn’t communicate at all with her. Whenever Melissa tried to call him, the answering machine message only irritated her even further. Joe should have notified her of any emergency, but he had failed to do so. Worry began to fill her heart. Could it be that the man she thought so highly of had tricked her? Was it possible that Helena had been right about him all along? Melissa couldn’t know, and that blaze of uncertainty, nestling in her heart, did not allow her to relax at all for the remainder of the day.
The pale, indigo sky surrounded Melissa, as she awaited her brother outside her cabin that night. Had she heard news from Joe by then, she would not have been that impatient to visit the witch. Still, his disappearance, and the fact that he didn’t have the courtesy to call her, particularly after their encounter, made her want to talk to Helena as soon as possible. Although the possibility of the witch knowing what he had been up to was rather slim, any information she might have on Joe could be useful.
Minutes afterwards, Dean stepped out of his cabin. He was not alone; Kate was right behind him, with a wicked smile on her face, holding hands with him, as they strolled towards her.
“Hey, you guys,” Melissa cast a quick glance up at her brother, and one more down at Kate. “I wasn’t expecting you to come with.”
“Are you serious?” Kate wondered, narrowing her puzzled eyes. “This guy’s the most messed up man I’ve ever heard of. I can’t wait to know more about him. Too bad Jules isn’t here.”
“Yeah, too bad you can’t mock him with her,” Melissa said, her lips curling into a humorless smile, as she turned around to walk alongside her friend.
“Relax, Mel,” Kate suggested, speaking sweetly to her as she patted her on the shoulder. “Knowing you’re so serious about this guy, we wouldn’t mock him. You can’t deny it, though. Your man’s a huge mess.”
“He’s made a big mistake, sweetheart,” Melissa voiced her opinion, recalling Joe’s letter, as they closed in on the woods. “In all truth? I’m sure I’d do the same, if I were him.”
“He’d better start being very careful, starting now,” Dean grated out, tossing a sideways glare down at his sister.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Melissa asked with a hint of annoyance in her feminine voice.
“Look, I don’t care who he is, or your relationship with him. If anything happens to you, if any harm befalls you or my brothers, I’m going to rip that prick to pieces,” Dean stated, his tone stiff, still staring at Melissa.
“Easy there, tiger,” Kate spoke, turning to face him, as they crept under the shadow of a tree. “I trust your sister. Why don’t you? I mean, she is your blood.”
“It’s him I don’t trust,” Dean explained, tearing his gaze away from his sister. Uninterested in arguing with him, however, Melissa chose to let her brother’s words pass by her unheard, and not because she meant to defend Joe. Clover Lake was hiding behind the numerous trees in front of her. It had been a while since she had last been there, and she had missed it. She was still a few hundred yards away from it, but she could visualize the right lower edge, as well as a few patches of the surface.
“Reverend Bradford, it’s time we had a serious conversation about that ‘broken hearts’ issue,” Kate teased, flashing a sweet smile up at her mate.
“Stop,” Dean commanded, his feet coming to an abrupt halt, as he gazed at the thick trunk of a tree across from him and slightly to the left. The ample moonlight was flashing gray on it, as Helena’s red eyes emerged from behind the trunk.
“You’re early,” the witch remarked, pulling her hood back from her head. “It’s not even dark yet.”
“Joe is missing,” Melissa informed, hastening towards her. “I haven’t heard from him since last night.”
“That is not my problem.” Helena pointed out. “Besides, it is his past that we must concern ourselves with, my young one.”
“Bummer,” Melissa muttered under her breath, pressing her lips together, as she, Kate and Dean gathered around the witch.
“You can see his future, right?” Dean squinted down at her, his voice coming out hesitantly. “It’s not…” he paused, “blurry or anything.”
“It would be, in case his future was protected by a spell,” Helena replied, twisting her staff, as she planted the end of it against the forest floor. “It isn’t. We will get to that, but I’m happy to say that every clue points to the fact that Joe Stanton has never been involved with witchcraft of any sort. He has been, however, dancing with the devil. I’m not really surprised. He…”
“You’re talking him down? Again?” Melissa protested, interrupting her.
“You are awfully touchy when it comes to him, you know that?” Kate complained, anger creeping into her tone, as she glared up at her. “Let her finish.”
“Thank you, Kate,” Helena gave her an appreciative nod. “The firm Joe works for nets more than a hundred million dollars. How do you think ‘Cross and Associates’ has accomplished that, Melissa? By representing simple people? No. Their clients are known drug dealers, crooked politicians, known members of the underworld in general. This is not Joe’s fault. Getting in bed with those people is just part of his job.”
“That’s true,” Melissa said, dragging her gaze away from the witch. “I’m sorry about before. I shouldn’t have snapped at you like that.”
“Do not do that again,” Helena stated in an emphatic tone, while her face hardened. “You might be Roman’s granddaughter, but if you do that again, I will deny any further assistance. Are we clear?”
“Crystal,” Melissa sighed, bringing her attention back to Helena. “Please continue.”
“The ‘getting in bed’ part was not entirely metaphorical,” Helena went on, her voice losing its nerve, as she pursed her lips. “Joe has been rumored to date women from the entertainment industry: in particular, two singers and one actress. But, that’s not what worries me. His personal life is his own. Still, there is another rumor, much worse than his soft tooth for artists. David Cross, his boss, is a well-known party animal. The guest list is comprised of a select few. No one can know for sure what really takes place in those parties, but, according to Phil Rushmore, a retired banker, they did lines of cocaine. In fact, Joe will be in a similar party, in a few hours from now.”
