Pushing Boundaries Ch. 07

"Keona honey..." he whispered softly. He didn't want to scare her. Whatever it was she was doing, he wanted to help. When an unfamiliar ache pounded at the base of his skull, Alex stood still. Someone was standing right in front of him... if he could just reach out and touch...

A blinding flash of light.

Alex felt his mind pulled inwards; replaying the last twenty-four hours like a cinema in his head. He saw himself sitting in front of Riley's computer and then searching through his case files... and then there was the arrival of his Alpha and the others from UK...

"Enough!" he growled, stepping back; trying to dislodge the annoying headache by shaking his head vigorously. When the ache finally cleared, the scent hit him --

Strong and potent as...

"Keona... Honey, I'm here. Please stop hiding..."

Keona watched the annoyance in his eyes give way to concern and gentleness. He knew. She had accidentally let slip her control over her scent because she had seen her father in Alex's memories. She had thought it would be easier to carry out this stupid task if he had been safe back home in the compound... but now that he's here with the rest of the family, tracking her, Marine and Riley...

Connor's instructions jammed hard down her spine. Who was tracking Riley? The memories flashed through her mind --oh god... her uncle Draven and Big Mike.

She might have to kill a Pureblood and her mate's father. No! She'd rather die.

Fighting off the pain from going against the blood oath, Keona let slip her cloaking ability, revealing herself knelt down, hands on her head as though stopping the torture in her mind. It wasn't that she was weak but it took more than just a few hours to have perfect control and manipulation of abilities she never had before --some of which belonged to Ancient Purebloods of the lethal variety.

It wasn't surprising when she felt herself lean into the warmth and familiarity of a pack member... and the comfort of her mate. He wasn't saying anything --no questions, no nagging --but simply held her until the shivers melted away under his strong embrace.

When she looked up --green eyes into his midnight black ones, Keona knew that all those years of fighting him was simply a mask for her attraction. There was no denying the special bond between them. It didn't take an inner wolf to tell her that this man before her would rather cut himself than hurt her.

Curling against him, she took in his scent; reveling in the smell of the wilderness and trees in them.

"Alex..."

"Shh... we'll talk when you're ready."

"I'm sorry..." she murmured. How was she going to tell him?

"Don't be... stay the night Key and we'll figure out everything tomorrow..."

Yes, she wanted to scream but there was no time to lose... "I can't... I have to go."

"Two hours. Please baby, please be with me." A gentle demand. "We'll talk. I'll help. Just don't go."

Keona doubted he'll let her go anyway. From the deathly grip he had over her arms, she was sure that Alex would fight her all the way to the door if she even tried to escape. Two hours?

She'll give it to him --for it was all she could give him. Alex would have to live on without her. Maybe he'll find a nice wolf back home and settle down... have those young pups he loved so much...

Her hand went protectively to her stomach, realizing that it was something she would never get the chance to give him...

But for two hours tonight...

"Okay," she whispered, burying her face at the crook of his neck. "I'm yours."

***

He wanted to swipe at her, bite her and tell her to fight him but Keona was lying so forlornly in his arms that it was just... not her.

The Keona he knew would never yield easy. The wolf in him wanted to nudge its mate to play, to annoy and challenge its temper --a sadistic nature of his.

"Stop thinking and take me Alex..." she coaxed; fingers already at his buttons, desperate for skin contact. "Time's running out."

No, Alex thought, time would never run out as long as she was with him. Grasping her impatient fingers, he brought them to his lips. This wasn't just another rut in the forest. He was going to take it slow this time.

Dropping her hands to her side, he carefully pulled her tank top off to reveal smooth and tender flesh cocooned in a white bra. His lips curved at the practicality of his mate. He wouldn't consider the supportive bra as sexy but it sure as hell made him wonder what she was hiding under all that cloth.

His hands covered both mounds and squeezed gently; fingers tweaking her nipples even through the practical cotton.

"Alex..." she whispered eager to feel his hands on bare flesh. "Please..."

"Patience..." he murmured, licking the side of her neck, taking in her scent. "We have two whole hours. I want to touch you Keona... all of you."

Before she could protest, his lips were on hers; soft yet demanding. It wasn't like their previous tryst and Alex wanted to make it right, to make her remember this moment. His fingers danced slowly on her skin before resting on her bra clasp. Unhooking it, he let the material slide down, exposing her nipples to the cool air.

Fingers closed immediately on the hardened nubs, rubbing and tweaking them as he wished. At the whimper in her throat, he smiled and murmured, "Not yet honey..."

Keona's body was on fire; every inch dying to be touched and licked. She arched her body closer to the source of her desire, demanding that he hold her closer, touch her rougher... but her mate had other ideas of his own.

She felt her feet no longer touching the floor as Alex carried her to his bed and laid her down. Lying on her back, Keona watched as the magnificent male began unbuttoning his shirt, exposing inch by inch of lean, toned muscles for her viewing pleasure.

Anticipation was like a flame licking over her skin as he climbed onto the bed, hands by the side of her head; his lower body pressed over her legs to keep her still.

"You're sexy," she whispered almost shyly as she reached out to touch his chest. At the sharp intake of his breath, she looked up in alarm.

"I won't bite... yet," he said with a wicked grin. True to his word, he stayed perfectly still as he let her stroke him; enjoying every expression of delight and curiosity on her face. The wolf inside was thrilled to have its mate so close, petting him with tenderness and need.

Eyes on him, Keona moved her fingers down his abdomen and heard him suck in his breath. Feeling encouraged, she let her hands slide lower, cupping the hardness of his cock through his jeans. It pleased her to see his reaction to her; recalling how he had deliciously filled her and pleasured her the last time.

"I like your thoughts..." At his words, Keona looked up.

"Stop reading my mind..."

"You're broadcasting your naughty thoughts out loud. I can't help... but I can help you with this..."

He grounded his erection directly into her warm hands and let out a low moan when he felt her squeeze it hard. Growling, he pulled away and got off the bed to peel down his jeans. They were in the way.

Fully naked, he climbed back into bed and rubbed his bare skin against Keona. She was laughing at his playfulness even as she wrapped her hands around his neck and brought his lips down on hers. This time, she was the aggressor; demanding lips pressing over his, her tongue seeking his.

They pulled apart only to catch their breaths before fusing their lips back together; hands roaming each other's bodies hungrily. Alex was already pushing down her slacks, growling when he met the flimsy material of her panties.

"You can use my clothes later," was all he said before he ripped the barrier between them. Keona didn't have time to complain for his fingers were already at her pussy, rubbing enticingly at her clit. Instead, she let out a soft groan as two of his fingers slipped inside her, seeking more of her liquid warmth.

"Please Alex... no more teasing... please..." she begged as she squirmed to allow more of his fingers to penetrate her. Alex stilled as he watched her moving her hips desperately, fucking herself. It turned him on greatly and the next time she went down, he drove his fingers up in a quick and rough manner, making her scream from pure pleasure. His hand moved faster as he coaxed her into her first orgasm. Alex smiled as he felt her pleasure exploding around his fingers, coating them with her juice.

Eyelashes fluttering, Keona opened her eyes to see him licking his fingers appreciatively.

"I think I want more," he whispered before sliding his body down and spreading her thighs apart. Keona expected him to lick her as he had done in the forest but Alex was simply looking at her; tracing her pussy lips teasingly with one finger.

"Don't stare at it..."

"It's mine. I can stare at it all I want. Plus I know you secretly love it." He managed a grin before burying his head closer to ravish her seductive offering. Keona let out a scream as his tongue licked her tender folds before sucking deliciously on her clit. The sensations made her push her hips higher to feel closer to the source of her pleasure.

But she wanted more. Keona moved her legs away and coaxed Alex to lie on the bed. It pleased her to see the growing bulge between his legs. Climbing on top of him, she started working her lips on his cock while offering herself to his mercies.

Alex didn't need to take a hint. He began tonguing her pussy, trying not to think of her soft, explorative licks along his shaft. When she began to suck on its head, experimentally letting more of his length into her mouth, Alex groaned and forced himself not to move his hips and fuck her face.

Instead, he allowed his mate to take her time. She had taken half his length into her mouth and was bobbing up and down, lathering more of her saliva down his cock. Alex felt her caress his balls gently before moving up to clamp around the base of his cock.

"Honey, I don't want to come in your mouth," he groaned as he lifted her up and rolled over so that she was now pinned under him. Keona was already lifting her hands out in invitation --one that he couldn't ignore.

Closing his lips with hers, Alex spread her thighs gently apart and began to push his cock slowly into her pussy; feeling her warm tightness gradually accommodating more and more of his length.

When he pulled his lips away, Alex arched his body so he could stare down at the beautiful creature before him.

Mine.

Keona smiled. She wouldn't admit it of course but it felt good to belong to someone. Wrapping her legs around his waist, she urged him to move faster, meeting him thrust for thrust.

Alex could hear the beast inside of him howling in ecstasy. The blood pumping through him was making him wild; his hips pumping faster and deeper into Keona, needing to fill and mark her over and over...

"Fuck!" he groaned as he felt her muscles clamp painfully tight around his cock, her body shaking as he brought her to another orgasm. He waited for her to calm down for just a moment before flipping her onto her knees; thighs closed together. Spreading her ass cheeks apart, he drove himself in one thrust --the speed and force of his movement causing a moan from both of them.

She was so much tighter in this position and both Alex and his wolf wanted this woman --every part of her, mind body and soul. And as he claimed her savagely; pistoning his hips back and forth, Alex knew it had to be tonight.

He was going to mate with her and she was going to accept it.

Slowing down slightly, he bent forward, pressing her body down until it lay horizontal on the bed and nipped her ear gently. "I want it." Not a question.

In such a position, there was no way to fight --not when he was buried to deep and delicious inside of her with his mating scent clearly signalling his intentions.

"Yes."

His response was a howl --his wolf just beneath the surface, ready to bite and mark its mate for the first time. Resuming his thrusts, Alex moved his hips with a fervour that would have exhausted a normal man --but he was a wolf in heat and he sensed his release approaching.

Keona felt the sharp clamp of teeth at the juncture of her neck and shoulders; the venom of her mate coursing through her body, his scent mingling with hers. And then he gave one last thrust and she screamed as the hot searing liquid of his cum filled her pussy in furious waves.

***

For that one moment, Alex simply held his mate, feeling every emotion, hearing every thought, seeing every worry that gripped through her body. She had opened her mind to him and him to her.

And now he knew.

There was no way he was going to let her fight alone. It had taken the whole of his adult life to finally admit that he loved her and there was no way he's letting her go so easily. He'd wrestle her to the ground if that was what it took to keep her with him.

As his final pleasure ebbed away, Alex fell on the bed, spooning Keona; wrapping his arms around her. The knot between them was a painful reminder of the start of their mating bond. Holding her close, his lawyer's mind worked quickly, trying to find some sort of loophole in the blood oath she had taken with Connor. There had to be something he could exploit. She had to track whoever's hunting Riley right and then terminate the threat, along with all information regarding the Vanguard.

At least he got something right. Riley was a high ranking Vampire --not by age or blood status but according to the American Council, he was probably like one of the Heads of a department.

But that was not all.

He had seen in Keona's thoughts all the tests she had been put through and it was a wonder that she survived after all the arduous tasks she had to perform. She was like a pressure cooker, simply waiting for the time to implode.

So he was going to help her. First by channeling some of her stress and fear into himself and second, by taking her to Alaron's place to sort out this mess.

"Keona..." he whispered, nudging her awake. The sexy image of her naked body tangled up in his made his wolf yearn for more but Alex knew it had to wait. "I need you to do something with me baby..."

"Can't..." she groaned. "Too much already..." Or so she said but Alex caught her looking down between them.

"Not that..." he grinned, nipping her lower lip playfully. "I wonder if you can see our mating bond?"

"I can feel it."

"Good. Do you trust me Key?" A hesitant look followed by a nod. "Okay, I want you to focus on it and let all your worries flow. I'll be fine, I promise."

"No!" she sat up immediately. "I have too much power inside me that I might kill you by accident Alex! No, I have to go now. You can't do this to me."

He caught her by the wrists as she started clambering off the bed. "Then when are you going to tell me about hunting my father?" That did it. She stopped to turn and look at him.

"How do you know that?!"

"You're my mate. I can read your mind back."

"You..." she was stunned. "So you know..."

"Yes. And I also know you're about to burst with all those pent up energy. You're a walking time bomb Keona. If you don't stop worrying and over analyzing everything, you're going to explode. I don't want to bring pieces of you back to Eian. Trust me --my butt's already on the line."

There was fire in her eyes at the purposeful taunt but Keona kept her insults to herself. As infuriating as this man was, she loved him... as she had since they were children.

"You want to share my curse?" she whispered. "Why?"

He looked at her in disbelief. "Honestly?" She tilted her chin up arrogantly despite the situation. "The same reason why you stole my Panda bear and take it to sleep every night for the past five years."

The shock in her eyes told him he was right.

"I did not!"

"Yeah and pigs fly. But I forgive easily. Let's make a deal --you get to keep my panda and I get to keep you."

"Alex..."

"No arguments." He pressed his lips over hers to mute her protests. "I'll chain you to my bed if I have to but you're not leaving me Keona... get that into your head."

"You pig."

"Wolf."

"Unscrupulous."

"Vixen."

Her eyes narrowed in challenge. But then a wicked smile tugged at the edge of her lips.

"I love you."

"Infuria...what?"

Keona enjoyed watching the surprise on his face just before they darkened into a dangerously sexy tease. "Huh. Think I'm scared?" he growled.

"Maybe."

"You know I never back out of a fight. And love's too tame a word for me."

Something flashed in her eyes but he felt it --her disappointment.

"I'd like to spend my entire life driving you crazy, keeping you swelled with our babies and yelling at me to keep my feet off the table. Then we'll make sweet love at night and snipe at each other again in the morning. How does that sound?"

"Bet your wolf likes that."

"And so does the man." He kissed her nose. "I'll buy you flowers when you're angry okay? Maybe bribe you with those triple chocolate cakes you love so much."

"With cream?"

"Mmm..." he nuzzled her neck. "Yeah... so what do say Keona? Want that with me?"

She kept her face close to his chest as she whispered, "Yes Alex... yes."

***

Eian was pacing. He hadn't heard from Alex for the past three hours and he was getting worried.

"He'll be fine Eian... stop worrying," said Erika gently.

"Yeah. You're going to make a hole in the damn carpet," grumbled Alaron.

"I can't help but worry. I'm the Alpha. It's my job to worry about my pups."

"Mike's not looking worried," said Alaron, jerking a finger at the Beta wolf.

"He suffers in silence," said Dominic. Looking over at his pack mate, he knew that the wolf was worried as well. Big Mike might be a giant but he had the gentlest heart ever. It would rip apart if anything were to happen to his only son.

"I'm fine," said Mike. "Perhaps we should just update each other on our findings... that should keep us occupied."

The others murmured in agreement. Eian took the lead. "Okay, I managed to track Keona's scent to the little shelter she's working at but the feral wolves seemed to have lost her scent after a few miles. It's like she learnt how to shield her own scent somehow."

"Probably had a Vampire with that ability close by," said Draven. "We all know she and Naira have the ability to copy others' abilities. She might have accidentally picked it up without realizing."

"It could be that damn Riley," muttered Alaron. At Erika's look, he softened. "Well, me and Dominic followed the lead that Alex gave on Marine's last location and aside from the tainted blood, we didn't get much. The tracks that he discovered have been washed away by the rain."

"But I think they also switched to another form of transport so they wouldn't be followed. The tire tracks stopped slightly before one of the minor lakes and unless they can walk on water, we'd probably have to look around for an abandoned boat." "Wait," said Erika. "What if they did walk on water?" At the puzzled look of the men, she continued. "It could be a façade hiding something beneath. I mean don't you guys watch resident evil? The surface house is just a front for... ah well never mind. You oldies never watch TV anyway."

"Hey! I watch TV. I know it's that hot chick with the cool moves right?" said Alaron defensively.

"Oh, that you remember," she laughed, slapping at her mate. "But it's a possibility right? Maybe you two could take a swim?"

"It's worth a try," said Dominic.

"So how about you two? Any luck on Riley?" asked Eian.

"I went to the American Council earlier on to check the birth records but there was nothing on Riley Eos. The last remaining Eos were listed as deceased decades ago. They were mercenaries." Draven tapped his temple as though trying to recall more information. "The clerk wasn't more helpful but I think the American mercenaries are given more freedom than the European ones. Ours still obey the one hundred year rule but over here, I've heard rumors that they have rules on their own."