Dark Blood Deleted Scenes Read online

  He took them several kilometers into the interior until he found the resident wolf pack. He howled his welcome and invitation to them and they joined with him, running easily in pack formation around him as they took the girls on a long adventure through the trees and upstream.

  They were delighted, calling out to the wolves and imitating the cries easily. Anya seemed to understand the animals easily and matched her tones exactly. Anastasia relied on her sister for some of the interpretations but she learned quickly.

  He circled around and loped back, leaving the wolf pack a mile or so from the clearing where the Carpathians had gathered to listen to the Dark Troubadours music. He shifted as he walked back into the light, easily removing each girl with one hand, setting the two of them carefully back down on the ground. They were flushed, eyes bright, sparkling with laughter.

  “Thank you, Zev,” Anastasia said. “That was so fun.”

  Anya nodded, obviously shyer. “Thank you,” she echoed. “I want to do it again sometime, okay? Especially the wolves.”

  “We will,” he promised.

  “And thank you for letting us keep our crystal,” she added.

  “You’re very welcome.” Zev waited until they’d run excitedly back to Gregori to tell him all about it. When he was certain they were safe, he turned back to Branislava.

  Her eyes met his in a kind of secret amusement. He looked passed her to see the children lined up. Little Stefan was first, dancing around, clutching a WHAT in his hand, excitement on his face. Behind him, Tempest and Darius’s boy, Andor stood holding hands with Travis. Sara and Falcon’s children were behind him. Each of them had something to barter for their ride.

  I hope you’re not tired, Branislava said, laughter spilling over. You’ve got a long night ahead of you.

  What am I? The local Carpathian carnival ride?

  I believe you are, she said complacently.

  Zev looked around a little desperately for Fen and Dimitri. Both seemed to have disappeared, but he was more than certain they were hiding—the cowards.

  Caleb and the rest of his pack emerged from the trees. Caleb strode up to him. “You needed us, sir?”

  Zev found himself smiling at his lifemate. She smiled back, her eyebrow raised. Of course she’d called the pack in to assist him in giving the children rides. It only would bring them closer to the Carpathians.

  Clever woman, he praised her and sent her a kiss.

  So true, she agreed, sending him back the impression of the brush of her mouth over his.

  Zev walked over to the line of children, his pack behind him. “Let’s take a look at what you children have to barter with, shall we?”

  ~DARK BLOOD: DELETED SCENE 3~

  Branislava stood at the edge of the crystal blue lake, staring down into the water. It looked beautiful, but cold. She didn’t like cold and doubted if she would ever get used to it. Staring at her reflection, she tried hard to see herself the way Zev obviously saw her. He thought she was beautiful. It was impossible not to know that, to feel it, not when he was so vocal about it in his thoughts.

  He came up behind her so silently, she wouldn’t have known he was there, but for the reflection in the water, and the way he smelled. There was nothing else like that masculine, woodsy scent. He was the forest. She thought of him that way. Or at least Guardian of the forest and everything in it.

  His arms came around her waist and he pulled her back into his body protectively, his hands finding hers to lock her there. She could see the glow in his eyes, that distinctive silver that said he’d been out hunting. He lowered his head and her heart stuttered wildly. All that shaggy hair fell around her, brushing her neck and shoulders as his teeth scraped over her pounding pulse.

  Branislava reached back with one arm to circle his neck. The action lifted her breasts and caught his attention instantly. One of his hands reached up to slide inside the thin ruffle of her blouse, his fingers finding her right breast and lifting it out of her corset into the open air.

  She smiled at him, using the water as a mirror. “Good evening, my wolf. What exactly are you looking for this wonderful night?”

  The weather wasn’t wonderful unless one liked rain. Dark clouds spun across the sky, blotting out the stars and small sliver of moon. A cool wind blew, an ominous portent of the coming storm. She didn’t mind storms. In fact she preferred being out in the open when they came, all that wonderful space where she could fling out her arms and dance a rain dance if she wanted. The freedom was exhilarating and it was easy enough to control her body temperature, no matter the weather.

  The icy lake was a little reminiscent with it glacier color, of the ice caves, but she was always taken with the sheer beauty of the spot. The heat of Zev’s palm cupping her breast warmed her, while the night air and cool wind teased her nipple into such an inviting peak he couldn’t resist.

  Each tug or roll sent a streak of heat flashing through her body, straight to her core. She watched his hand kneading soft flesh while his teeth skimmed her neck and his tongue took away the sting. The image in the lake was erotic, a man holding his woman to him, leisurely enjoying her out in the open, far from everyone.

  She allowed her head to fall back against his chest, exposing more of neck to him, offering her throat to the wolf.

  I could see so much more of you if you removed your clothing, he whispered, pure seduction in his voice. He pushed his body tight against hers, allowing her to feel the heavy erection waiting for her. You wear far too many clothes.

  She laughed softly. “Only so that you can remove them when you’re so inclined.”

  His teeth bit down a little harder. His fingers tugged, pulling her nipple and then rolling it until she gasped--and her core flooded with desire.

  “I do love the wolf coming out and making his presence known,” she admitted, her tone suggestive.

  He didn’t wait. His hand caught her blouse and ripped, tearing the thin material from her body, leaving only the corset wrapped around her rib cage and waist, lifting her breasts so that both nipples peeked at him in invitation. He stripped off the skirt, leaving her rounded hips and shapely legs bare. The red curls at the junction of her legs seemed to catch fire there in the lake.

  He lifted his head to look at her reflection and she nearly gasped as she caught sight of the way his eyes glittered in response. She loved what she could do to him--the knowledge that he wanted her with the same urgency that seemed ever present in her.

  “I think the corset can stay,” he said softly and bit down hard on her neck.

  Fire flashed through her body. She reached behind her to rub her palm over his erection right through the material of his trousers. Already thick and hard, his cock jerked in anticipation.

  Abruptly he dragged her backward. She couldn’t see where they were going, but she had no choice but to keep up with him. He suddenly spun her around, staying behind her, so that she found herself facing a small fallen tree trunk.

  Zev put one hand on her back, pushing her down so that she had to reach low to place both palms of the log, because his arm was around her hips, keeping her from bending her knees. He kicked at her ankles gently until she spread her legs for him.

  Around them, the fog moved in, surrounding them with privacy, but more than that, it reflected their images. Branislava could see herself, her head up, looking at the fog, her breasts hanging over her corset and her bottom up in the air with Zev stroking caresses over each firm globe.

  The wind teased her, played with nipples while he danced fingers up the inside of her thighs, never touching her fiery core. He tugged at the curls covering the treasure, leaned forward and bit at her bottom, stung her with a couple of hard smacks and lapped away the sting with his tongue.

  She grew hotter and hotter. The bark on the log began to vein with red, creating a strange pattern around the natural colors. She pushed back and wiggled a little to provoke him, but Zev wasn’t easy to provoke. He caught her braid and wrapped it quickly arou
nd his wrist so he could pull her head back, forcing her bottom higher. In the reflective fog she could see her breasts swaying.

  Need lived and breathed in her. A fire raged between her legs and spread rapidly throughout her body. “Zev,” she whispered, a voice, husky and a little desperate.

  His fingers slipped into her and she cried out, pushing back against him. He drew out his honey and licked his fingers. “You taste better every single time,” he murmured, showing no hurry to put out the fire. “So hot. Cinnamon flavored. All mine.”

  She closed her eyes and breathed shallowly. He bent his head to lap at her melting core, even as his hands came around her to cup her breasts. Because her hair was wrapped around his wrist, the pull forced her head to one side. His cock settled between the globes of her bottom, wedging tightly there like a hot spike.

  His weight was over her, his body seemed to surround her and she was effectively held in place as if she might be his prisoner, and yet she felt free. So free. Happy. Blissfully happy. She actually felt the burn of tears in her eyes. How had she come to love this man so much? How could she want and need his body until every single cell in her body craved his?

  I love you the same way. The intensity only increases, he admitted, biting gently at the nape of her neck. I find everything about you irresistible, even that abominable temper of yours.

  She was in a terrible position to argue with him. Still. That couldn’t go unanswered. “Clearly I’m the voice of reason. You’re a wolf and have the foulest temper I’ve ever encountered.”

  “Really?”

  His teeth bit down a little harder. His fingers tugged until she wanted to sob with the flames licking through her bloodstream.

  “Are you absolutely certain about that?” He let loose of her hair to slip his hand between her legs, his finger circling her inflamed, sexy little button. “Say that again to me.”

  “You’re cheating,” she hissed, trying desperately to hold her body still. It didn’t help that he had so much more control than she did when she had none. Absolutely none. She would have begged and pleaded with him if she thought it would do her any good. She knew better. Zev would enter her at his own leisure, drawing out her hunger and building the tension in her body to the absolute breaking point.

  “Maybe. But that doesn’t negate the truth. You knew you shouldn’t have interfered with my reprimanding Randy, but you did it anyway. You should have trusted that I knew what I was doing. I would have praised Randy when he realized why I was reprimanding him. He needed to see that he would have been killed, even with him tagging you.”

  Her breath came in ragged gasps when he plunged his finger deep. He leaned forward again and bit down on her left cheek bottom, and then dragged his chin over the marks so that the shadow along his jaw added to the rough sensation bursting like fire through her body. He just kept feeding that firestorm fuel, building and building it inside of her until she thought she might go up in flames, until she couldn’t think coherently. He was actually beginning to make sense to her.

  “Accidents happen when we play rough,” she countered, trying not to whine, trying not to sob or plead. She needed him inside of her.

  “Randy--and all of them have to have it instilled in them that they protect their alpha female as well as every other female in the pack and others as well regardless of species unless they’re the enemy. The Sacred Circle has a wide influence. I can’t allow that influence in my pack.”

  “Zev. Please.”

  He pushed two fingers deep and stroked. “I like how you say please in that sweet sobbing voice. Say it again.”

  She pushed back into his hand, desperate for him, her body glowing with heat. She would do anything for him and he knew it and not because he could make her feel this way. She wanted to please him. She loved him beyond anything either ever expected.

  “Please. Hurry. I need you.”

  She had no time to prepare. He withdrew his fingers to replace them with his cock, slamming into her in one long, excruciatingly delicious stroke, driving through tight muscles to lodge so deep she thought he might have penetrated her stomach. She heard him inhale sharply, felt his body shudder with pleasure as her sheath rippled around him, grasping greedily and holding tight.

  He began to move, using his position to penetrate as deep as possible with each thrust, each stroke, hammering into her at a furious speed until the friction was so much that her silken muscles seemed to catch fire burning him. Then he would slow the pace, an intense long, unhurried very deliberate tempo that had her sobbing and pleading again.

  “You’re torturing me,” she gasped between each burning draw of air into her lungs.

  “But such a perfect moment. Right, mon chaton feroce? Perfect.”

  How could she say otherwise? It was perfect. He filled her perfectly. Stretched her exquisitely. Her muscles of their own accord clasped at him, milking and gripping, desperate to keep him inside of her.

  “Am I right?” He persisted.

  She heard that harsh note in his voice, the one that told her he was close to going up in flames, just as she was. Around her hands even the darker patches in the bark took on a reddish glow.

  “Yes,” she gasped out the agreement.

  He took her over the edge fast and hard, every stroke rocking her body and for a few moments, as she stared into the reflective fog, she could only see flames bursting around them. It looked as if the world was on fire, glowing orange and red. It didn’t matter, only this joy, this ecstasy of pure love she shared with him.

  She felt it in his touch, in the strength of his taking her, the tenderness in his kiss and the look in his eyes.

  “You’re mine, Zev,” she whispered. “You know that don’t you? My man. My wolf. Absolutely, utterly mine.”

  He laid his head on her back, his strong arms holding her up. “For eternity. Life after life after life.”