Romeo Alpha Blood Lines Romance Series - Books 1 to 5

Chapter Five

Chapter Five

“Romeo!” Amanda called as she held Sarina in her arms.

“Sarina!” Romeo called out, tapping his daughter’s cheeks. “Come on sweetheart.” Amanda pulled back Sarina’s hair, noticing the silver nitrate that coated her damp locks.

“It’s silver,” Amanda choked.

“We need to get her home. Hold onto her, Amanda. I’ll change and run her home.”

“Wait,” came a voice from behind them. Amanda turned to see a handsome young man approach them. “Let me take her, please.”

“You must be Brody,” Amanda said, a motherly smile on her face.

“I’m Brody Duscene and it’s awfully nice to meet you, Mrs. Traverse. I can see where Sarina gets her good looks.”

“Flattery only gets you so far, son.”

Brody grinned and stepped up to Romeo.

“I know that we have a lot to talk about, but your daughter’s welfare is just as much my responsibility as yours. More so now that we’ve mated. Please let me take her home.”

“You can’t move as fast as I can. I can change before the full moon.”

Brody gave Romeo what could only be called a cocky wink and then with a loud yelp of pain changed into his wolf, rubbing his nose against Sarina’s hand.

“Well, s**t,” exclaimed Romeo.

“We can’t stand here all night, Romeo,” Amanda said. “Let’s get everyone home and get Sarina comfortable before we talk anymore.”

“I don’t know how to let her go,” Romeo said, touching his daughter’s head. Grown or not, she was still that little girl who’d climbed onto his lap in her fluffy pajamas begging for a story or anything that would get her extra time before she had to go to bed.

“Then for right now, let’s just let Brody take her home. We’ll be right behind him and we can take better care of her there than standing out here in the middle of nowhere.”

Romeo helped Amanda secure Sarina’s limp body to Brody’s back and then gave a solemn nod that had Brody leaping through the forest like the wind. “He’s a mite faster than me,” Romeo said, the first signs of a grin on his face. “Maybe our girl didn’t choose so terribly after all.”

“She loves him,” Amanda said simply. “That much I know.”

“How?”

“The way she looks when she talks about him, as I did you not so long ago. I like to think I still look at you that way.”

>>

Brody bounded up the steps of the Traverse home and scratched the door, whining a howl as he did.

“Well look at you,” Jeremiah Traverse said, “Come in and bring our girl. Elijah can you help this pup with Sarina?”

Brody sat patiently, waiting for Elijah to lift Sarina from his back. The change came over him in an instant, his body exhausted and unable to hold its wolf any longer. He collapsed to the floor in a heap of tired, n***d man. Female giggles erupted from the stairwell and Jeremiah cussed. Brody barely felt the sheet cover him before he was crawling over to Sarina. Resting his forehead against hers, he whispered to her, “Come on love. You’re home now. We can’t have you lying about. We’ve got plans, remember? I need you with me Sarina. I can’t do this without you.”

“Who did this to her?” Romeo asked. Brody could tell by the way the front door slammed shut that Romeo Traverse was pissed and for good reason. Tucking the sheet around him, he stood up. Facing an alpha was hard enough. Facing your mate’s father, who was also an alpha was nearly impossible.

“My alpha did, sir. Reggie is careless, especially where your pack in concerned. He’s convinced that he should rule the entire Delta area. He said that your father took this portion of the pack unethically.”

“Reginald Baxter,” Jeremiah said, his voice still booming for his age, “is nothing more than a lowlife sleaze who just happened to come from the same genes as all wolves. Fenris,” he continued, “was a philanderer. Something that didn’t pass Lilith’s attention. It was exactly what she had planned all along. The more women Fenris slept with, the more wolves there would be. She knew eventually she’d come across a male who burned her blood and ruled with the tenacity you exhibited, Romeo. It was why she did as she pleased. She didn’t care about Damon or any other wolf, until you. She wanted to rule as Queen and it was you that stirred her. Fenris, however, was turned on by nearly any female figure that passed in front of his eyes. When Reginald’s mother came to the Delta, we tried to take her in, much like your father, Amanda. Lilith would not hear of it though and made sure that Reginald would not only rule his own pack, but would turn to the dark magic as well.”

“What was her end game?” Brody asked.

“She was delusional by the time we dealt death to her,” said Romeo.

“I’m afraid she was always that disturbed,” Jeremiah said, hanging his head in sadness. “It is my great shame that I could not save my son from her wiles.”

“Damon chose his own path, Father,” Romeo said. “It still doesn’t answer why Reggie shot Sarina with a silver bullet.”

“She challenged him,” Brody said. “Before I could stop her, she stepped out from behind me and challenged Reggie. He shot her because she was standing up for you, her family.”

“And you let him?” Elijah asked, his eyes hard as granite. “You just stood there and let him shoot her?”

“I didn’t see the g*n until he’d already pulled the trigger and by then he’d pointed it at my head. If I’d moved an inch I’d be dead and so would she,” Brody said, standing to his full height, easily six inches over Elijah.

“You have the makings of an alpha, son.”

“My father was the leader of the Hemstead Basin before he was murdered. Reggie found me and took me in, but I didn’t realize until recently where my bloodline came from. I would have become the alpha of that pack one day, had my father lived.”

“How was he murdered?”

“Lilith,” Brody said. “Only he called her Delilah. He spoke of her incessantly, like she was a d**g inside his system. He couldn’t get over her. She asked him to meet her one day and I begged him not to go. I followed him and watched as she slept with him. Then she pulled out a revolver and shot him in the head with a silver bullet. The alpha passed to my father’s brother, Rueben. He took a sweet woman as his mate and they’ve ruled the Hemstead Basin together ever since.”

“Why didn’t you go home?”

“When Reggie found me I was incoherent, inconsolable. It took them months to get me to talk in any sort of manner that would pass as communication. Three years later I was able to start leading, but by then I figured anyone who would have attempted to look for me probably figured I was dead, so I became dead to them and them to me. After that I never tried to go back.”

“Do you wish to lead now?”

“I won’t take an alpha position I haven’t earned and I won’t jeopardize Sarina for it.”

“Good,” Romeo said.

>>

They talked well into the morning as Amanda tended to their daughter.

“How is she?” Brody asked, concerned.

“She’ll heal, thankfully.”

“May I see her?”

“She’s in her room,” Amanda smiled. “First door on the left, top of the stairs.” Brody nodded and made his way up the winding staircase.

“Sarina?” he said, knocking softly on the door. Stepping into the quiet room he saw her lying on the bed, her body covered by a thick comforter. A diffuser was set up with a strength potion to help her regain what she’d lost.

“Hi handsome,” she smiled. Brody took her hand as she reached out to him and gently sat on the side of the bed. “I missed you while I was sleeping.”

“I never knew I could worry so much, or miss you so much,” Brody sighed. He lay down with her, certain not to jostle her weakened body.

“You’re darn right you’d better miss me,” she said, smiling. Brody turned toward her, marveling at her beauty. Even after being shot and nearly succumbing to the silver in her system, she was exquisite. Giving into the need, he leaned over and kissed her. The sweetness of her slow offering eased the ache in his soul. Then her hands came up to cup his face and she looked deep into his eyes.

“Sarina,” Brody breathed. Resting his brow on hers his eyes looked into hers. “You have to rest. I can’t touch you when you were next to dying just moments ago.”

“Then lie down and sleep with me some. Your presence is the balm my soul needs.”

Brody wrapped a protective arm around Sarina and drew her gently to him before they both fell asleep.

>>

“How’s she doing?” asked Romeo

“As good as can be expected. It’ll take her a couple of days to regain her footing. Having Brody here should help,” said Amanda.

“Where is the little whelp?”

“I sent him up to see her. I believe they’re sleeping, which will do them both a world of good.”

“I just can’t get over it, Amanda. She’s our daughter. We raised her to always come to us, to trust us. How could she hide this from us?”

“I don’t think she did hide it, love. I just think it overwhelmed her. If my instincts are right, she didn’t intend to mate with Brody. It was as spontaneous as the change the first time it happens.”

“But we taught her to be open and honest with us. Then all of a sudden she turns twenty-four and she’s mated within days of her first breeding season? I didn’t even know she was interested in anyone.”

“No one did,” Amanda said. “I’m not sure they knew each other long before this all happened.”

“And look how that turned out,” Romeo grumbled.

“Pot,” Amanda grinned and pointed toward the ceiling, “kettle. You can’t have forgotten that our own meeting and mating wasn’t nearly as smooth as a baby’s bottom.”

“This is different,” he sighed. He obviously wasn’t fooling his wife. Had she always seen right through him like that? “So what do we do now?”

“Right now,” Amanda said, grinning in that way that always turned him on, “we tell everyone who doesn’t live here, to go home and rest. We let Sarina and Brody rest.”

“What about us?”

“I think we can find something better than rest to occupy our thoughts and time.”

Romeo chuckled. She was a woman after his own heart if he’d ever known one. It took them nearly an hour to get everyone out and get their other children to various parts of the house. Romeo, knowing full well that their children would grow up someday, had made sure that the only bedroom downstairs was his and Amanda’s. He’d also had it outfitted with soundproof walls and a solid door that didn’t let much escape. Taking his wife’s hand, he led her down the hallway, turning toward the staircase.

“I just want to check on her,” he said. When Amanda pulled him back though, he sighed.

“Trust,” she said patiently, “starts now.”

“How’d you become the wise one?”

“Oh honey,” Amanda laughed, “I’ve always been the wise one. In the beginning I just hid it better so I wouldn’t bruise your ego.”

Pulling her into their room, Romeo took her mouth with a fervor that never seemed to dim for her. Her long, slender arms came around his neck as she sank into him. Turning, Romeo walked her, giggling, toward their bed. She laid down willingly... something she’d done from the very beginning. It humbled him to know that even after twenty-four years of marriage and scarcely more than that of being together, she was still leading him. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to see that he was the one who’d been blessed by her and not the other way around. Did all women affect their men in that way?

Grinning, Romeo stripped his shirt off and plopped down next to her, smiling when she turned toward him, laughing. Cupping her cheek, he ran his thumb over her full mouth, marveling at her beauty. Drawing her to him, Romeo kissed her soundly, sinking into everything he loved about her.

>>

Sarina woke the next morning feeling as if someone had weighed her body down by injecting sand into her veins. She knew it was the effects of the silver wearing off, but it didn’t help. Every time she tried to move it was like trudging through tar. Brody stirred beside her and resettled, still sleeping soundly. She managed to make it to the shower and felt ten times better when she emerged. When she opened the bedroom door, Brody was on the other side, waiting.

“You scared me,” she breathed, smiling.

“Don’t leave, okay?”

“I still have to dress as I haven’t streaked in front of my family since the age of two or three.”

“Good,” Brody smiled.

Sarina pulled her towel tighter and turned toward her closet, rifling through it as Brody closed the bathroom door. Brody was back out in minutes, his strong arms wrapping around her middle. “You smell good,” he cooed.

“I feel pretty good,” Sarina smiled, turning in his arms so she could see his face. She’d known from the beginning that it was his eyes, those beautiful pair of baby blues that could be light as glass or dark as a good storm that had drawn her in. She was thankful all over again that she’d picked him. “Kiss me, won’t you?”

He smiled and Sarina let him draw her down to her bed. Sitting on his lap she realized that love, the kind that grips your heart in a choke hold and never lets go, had snuck in when she hadn’t been expecting it.

“I love you, Brody,” she said, watching his eyes change from that light beauty to the raging storm. It was so damned sexy when he did that. “You don’t have to say it back, I just—”

His lips claimed hers in a rush of heat that scorched her soul. Passion like she’d never known swamped her as his hands tore her towel away, exposing the pink, n***d flesh beneath. Instantly her breasts tightened at his touch, and his mouth found them irresistible. Sarina’s head fell back as Brody’s warm tongue slid hot and wet over first one n****e and then the other. Ignited in a way no one had ever made her feel before him, Sarina let the fog descend over her, pushing out everything and everyone, but the wonderful man who was with her in this moment.

Her hands found the button to his jeans and undid it, pulling those denim pants down past his knees. He kicked them off as his hands continued to explore her flesh.

>>

Brody knew that never again would he find this. Sarina was more than just his mate. She’d started out as a passing flirtation and somewhere along the way in the timespan of the blinking of an eye, she’d totally flipped his world upside down. Stunned by her beauty and saturated by love for her, Brody kissed his way from her ankles all the way to her full mouth. Savoring the way her flavor poured through him, Brody ran his warm, wet tongue over her bottom lip, loving the way she invited him deeper with the quick flick of her own tongue. Taking the opening, Brody let his hand slide down her middle as his tongue explored her, tangling with her in a rush to arouse. Her legs parted willingly for him and Brody sank into the heat her body created.

“God you’re wet, Sarina,” Brody groaned. His fingers dove into her, spreading her wet folds and enjoying the way she panted at his touch. “Give me more, darling.”

Brody took her higher, nibbling her everywhere until she writhed beneath his touch, as eager to come as he was to watch her explode. Moving between her legs, Brody used his cool tongue to tease Sarina until she was begging him for it. Sliding his tongue into her while his thumb rhythmically circled her clit, Brody undid everything she knew before. There was so much he wanted to show her. So much he wanted to experience with her, especially the first time she tasted and touched him.

Relentless in his pursuit of her pleasure, Brody continued to taste and touch her, driving her higher as her body yearned and stretched toward completion. Her breathless cries of ecstasy weren’t enough to deter Brody from his mission and just as his tongue slid slowly over her small nub, Sarina exploded. Her hips bucked wildly as his name tore from her lips.

“Again,” Brody said, sliding his fingers into her swollen folds. He pulled his boxers off and mounted her, filling her instantly, his own need no longer willing to wait. The wet heat of her hot p***y made Brody crave every inch of her and he pressed deeper and deeper still, until she cried his name. Even then he took her again, filling her over and over again.

Brody had never known s*x like this. The women he’d had before paled in comparison to Sarina and Brody felt himself swamped with love for her. The more he filled her, the more he wanted of her. Over and over again he used his hands and c**k to arouse her, driving her hard and fast until she shattered around him, her body convulsing around him and drawing his own o****m from him as they crashed down together.

“I can’t... do... anymore,” Sarina breathed, her body sweetly wrecked by him.

Brody covered their n***d bodies with a sheet and pulled her close, “Just rest with me then.” He pressed a kiss to her hair and stroked her arm as they found contentment in the silence. Wondering if she’d fallen asleep, Brody grinned. “I love you, Sarina.”

“I love that you love me,” she smiled back, pressing a kiss to his side. They slept for an hour or so before meandering downstairs.

“Do you think your family will ever accept you and me being together?”

“It doesn’t matter if they do or not. I’m with you, no matter what.”

After a quick brunch, Brody took Sarina outside where most of her family was playing volleyball.

“Want to join sis?” Jason asked.

“I don’t think I’m quite up for a volleyball game just yet Jay,” she smiled. “But give me a couple days and I’ll whoop your a*s again.”

“Too much nookie going on upstairs?”

“Leave your sister alone, Jason Jeremiah,” Amanda said, looking at her daughter. “Come sit with me.”

Brody watched Sarina sit next to her mother and realized then, how much they looked alike. If it was true that a woman would turn out to look like her mother, Brody considered himself a lucky man. Amanda Traverse, for a woman who was nearly fifty, looked amazing. Sarina strongly favored her, with hints of her father thrown in for good measure.

“How about it, Duscene? You want to play?”

Brody looked at Sarina’s twin and noticed some similarities. “Sure,” he said, catching the ball as he took his spot on the sand court.