KyriakisTriumph Page 8

  “There were a few who liked to point out how young you were and how all the unmated males wanted you. They said those males would eventually turn your head.”

  “But, that doesn’t make sense. I never gave you any reason to believe I’d be unfaithful to you. And like you, I felt that connection between us. After the joining ceremony, there would have been no way I would have strayed because our bond would have been too strong. Who told you these things? I want to know.”

  “Does it really matter, Anisa? Ultimately, I was the one who treated you abhorrently.”

  “But they apparently goaded you. I want to know who they are. I have that right.”

  He sighed, raking his hand through his hair. With anyone else, he would have told them to drop the subject, but this was Anisa and he would keep no secrets from her. “To be honest the ones who were filling my head with so many doubts are all dead. Unfortunately, Malum struck our pack hard. We lost several members, my grandfather and brother included.”

  “Oh, no. I’m sorry to hear that. It’s ironic that our union was supposed to strengthen both of our packs but it seems to have destroyed both of them,” she said quietly.

  “My brother Eros, was the main one who antagonized me. He did it under the guise of brotherly advice but I eventually learned that he was the reason why that so many of pack had fallen. He was plotting with Gage.”

  Anisa gasped. “Eros? But he seemed so nice…he told me…oh no. He was the one who suggested that I should be afraid of you because of your violent temper. He said not to hold it against you. He made it seem like he cared about you but he just wanted me to watch out.”

  Paris had already come to terms with the fact that his own brother had plotted against him but learning he might have been the wedge that had come between him and Anisa was another blow. At this point, there was nothing he could do about it. Eros was long gone and at the end of the day, he was still responsible for his own actions. “I wish I wasn’t so easily influenced back then. It seems like my brother played a bigger role in this Gage business than I thought.”

  “You’re right. Eros may have played a part in what went wrong with us but it was ultimately your fault for you allowed your anger and insecurity to get in the way of something that could have been great.”

  “I know. I—”

  She held up her hand. “Let me finish. I shouldn’t have let my fear of you take over. I should have fought harder for us. I should have stood up to you and showed you what I was made of. As you know, Pack Nkrumah was unique in that it was run by women. My mother wasn’t cruel but she was tough, as were all the women in my pack. I think it’s because they felt they had something to prove to other packs that they could run their affairs just as efficiently as their male counterparts. I was also told that I had to be stronger and that I was weak. I always felt like an outsider in my pack. In retrospect, I understand why my mother was so tough on me. It was because I really wasn’t one of them. I was just a pup they’d taken in after my real parents were murdered.”

  “You knew about that?” Paris asked.

  Anisa nodded. “Yes. After I was taken by Gage, I learned the truth. After what I was subjected to by that monster, I never want to be that weakling again. I’m going to fight anyone who tries to control me and that includes you, Paris Kyriakis. I’m not the same Anisa you once knew. I’ve gone through too much, seen too much.”

  He was quiet for a moment as though mulling over what she’d just said. Finally, he sighed. “You’re right.” He then frowned. “You said something about Malum destroying both of our packs. What do you know about it?”

  “Paris…your brother did more than start a whisper campaign between the two of us.”

  “What do you mean? What else did he do?”

  “I was still practically a pup. I wasn’t that strong a swimmer so I needed a boat. Eros was the one who secured a small one for me. He gave me the keys to a house to take shelter in until he could get me safely out of Greece. He was helped by Eleni. That house was the one you put me and Gaspard up in. I had the feeling that I’d been there before and now, I understand why. I didn’t stay there very long because Gage showed up. I’m guessing it was a set up all along.”

  As more of his brother’s treachery unfolded, he felt a deep anger. Had Eros hated him that much? “Fuck. He wanted to be Alpha and I guess, he decided that he’d make it happen by any means necessary. It’s a hard pill to swallow considering we’d once been so close. We were best friends or so, I thought.”

  “Maybe he did care about you in his own way but jealousy clouded his judgment.”

  “Maybe.” Knowing what he knew now it might take him longer than he thought to come to terms and make peace with what Eros had done. “Enough about Eros. Tell me about what happened to your pack? Because after you went missing, your mother wasn’t happy about it. She actually put a curse on us. After that, your pack members left our island never to be heard from again.”

  Anisa bowed her head, the sadness in her eyes was clear. “After Gage captured me, he hunted down my pack. He used them to keep me in line. But my mother provoked him. Looking back, I think she did it on purpose to get him to kill her, that way he wouldn’t have anything to hold over my head. In a fit of rage, he slaughtered them all.”

  “Your entire pack?”

  Anisa nodded, hastily wiping a tear from her eyes. “Every single one of them that he’d captured. He didn’t get my entire pack, just the high ranking ones and my parents and aunts. I was devastated. It was worse than the torture. He made me stay in wolf form and he’d perform a spell on me that would suck the energy out of me. It was a painful process but after he did it, he’d leave me alone for days. I suppose it was so I could recharge so that he could do it again. That went on for years and there were points in time where I wanted to die but the anger kept me alive.”

  “I’m so sorry that happened to you,” Anisa.”

  “I managed to survive somehow and, in a way, I didn’t have it as bad as some of the shifters that Gage kept as pets. He had a sadistic streak where he liked to torture the shifters he’d captured. He got some kind of maniacal joy from it. I never understood why he did it. I suppose madness has no explanation. But no one had it as bad as this poor wolf Gage only referred to as Pet. She was there before I arrived and I believe, she was his first capture. I felt so bad for her. But I admired her for surviving. When Roland took me away from there, I would often think about her.”

  The mention of the man she bore a child for made Paris’s heart twinge with jealousy. He had no right to be upset that she’d taken up with someone else when he’d done the same. He quickly pushed the envy aside and focused on her other statement.

  “Nina was finally able to be free of Gage.”

  Anisa frowned. “Nina? Who is that?”

  “You might remember her as Pet. She’s also Aries’s mate.”

  “You mean she’s the one who Aries was referring to?”

  Paris nodded. “I’m sure you already know from your time with Gage that she’s the source of Malum. Well, it’s had some adverse side effects on her. She was stuck in shifter form—your wolf form. She must have been stuck like that since she’d gotten away from Gage. It was only a matter of time before the madness set in. Sarah was able to heal her to the point where she’s back in her human form. But she’d been having difficulty lately. She doesn’t know how long she’ll be able to remain the way she is. She’s afraid that if she shifts into her wolf form, she won’t be able to shift back ever again. You’re her only hope. You have more seraphim blood than Sarah. You may be able to heal her on your own but if you can’t, Sarah can help.”

  “I’ve never healed anyone before. I still don’t understand how these powers of mine work. Trust me when I say what happened between me and Sarah was a complete surprise.”

  “Sarah really doesn’t know how it works either but she was able to cure my daughter Persephone, who had contracted the illness.”

  “Then why can’t Sarah
cure Nina?”

  “Probably because she’s the source and it will take a magic more powerful than she possesses. From what I’ve seen, she simply touches the person in need of healing and somehow, it just happens. Maybe she can explain it when you talk to her again.”

  Anisa shrugged. “Well, I don’t see any harm in trying. My memories were restored when I hugged Sarah so maybe these powers of mine will work again. Roland tried to explain the seraphim thing to me as best as he could but it’s still hard for me to grasp the concept.”

  That was the second time she mentioned Roland. And Paris could no longer bite his tongue. “Did you love him?”

  “Who?”

  “Roland.”

  Anisa didn’t answer right away as a thoughtful expression furrowed her brows. “It’s hard to say. I’m just getting all my memories back but I think if I did, he’d be one of the first things I remember. But…right now, he’s a distant memory. It could be that it may take some time before all my memories are clearer. But from what I recall, I cared for him a lot. He saved me so maybe a lot of what I felt was gratitude. We made Sarah so I suppose I do have some love for him. What about you? Did you love the woman you mated?”

  Paris shook his head. “Don’t get me wrong, I cared about Melanie very much but I never loved her. She knew that going into our union but she said she didn’t mind because our union would be for the good of the pack. I believed her, not realizing her feelings ran deeper for me than mine did for her. It became a bone of contention for us.”

  “Why didn’t you love her?” Anisa inquired.

  Paris moved closer to Anisa and cupped the side of her face. It was a good sign that she didn’t flinch away from his touch. He caressed her cheek with his thumb. She looked so beautiful with her big doe eyes, staring back at him with curiosity. “Because there’s only one woman I ever truly loved. I stupidly ruined things for the two of us and she ran away from me. But now, she’s back and there’s nothing that I want more than to…” he broke off as he found himself lost in her beauty.

  “You want to what?” she whispered.

  “I want to do this.” He leaned over and pressed his lips against hers.

  Chapter Ten

  Anisa didn’t respond at first because she was certain if she did, she’d end up on her back with his head between her legs again. This time there would be no stopping them from going all the way. But as she debated on what to do, her body took the decision away from her. That tingling sensation felt in her core started to spread making her nipples pebble against her blouse and her pussy throb. How was he able to do this to her with just a kiss?

  With a growl, Paris pulled her into his arms and onto his lap. He pressed his tongue against the seam of her lips stroking it until she opened her mouth just enough to allow him entrance. But she refused to let him dominate her this time. She moved pushed her tongue forward to meet his, pushing back in a battle of wills. His taste was one she hadn’t forgotten in all these years, it was manly and raw and something uniquely Paris Kyriakis.

  Anisa dug her fingers through his hair and gave it a hard tug. He groaned in her mouth as she swirled her tongue around his, taking complete control. She moved her body until she was straddling him. Without breaking the kiss, she pushed him down onto his back. This taste, however, simply wasn’t enough. She needed more. Anisa wasn’t exactly sure what was happening to her but the need to be with this man was too overwhelming a feeling to ignore.

  When he tried to wrap his arms around her, she pushed them away and raised her head. “No. Let me take charge.”

  Paris raised a brow in surprise before a smile curved his lips. “Whatever you say, agapitós.” Anisa undid the buttons on his shirt and opened it to reveal a broad chest liberally sprinkled with dark hair. Shifter men were generally on the hairy side and Paris was no exception. But it was very sexy.

  Lowering her head, she circled the flat disk of his nipple with her tongue. He inhaled sharply in reaction. His skin was slightly salty against her tongue but she liked it. Anisa gave his other nipple the same attention before continuing her descent down his muscular body. Paris was all man and no other man had ever brought out this animalistic side of her. Not Roland and especially not Gaspard.

  She ran her tongue down the center of his body, dipping it into his navel as she worked to unfasten his pants. Paris tried to help her but she swatted his hands. “No. I’ll handle it.”

  She pulled his pants down narrow hips. As they slid down his legs, she admired his muscled thighs. Once they were off, she tossed them aside. He wasn’t wearing any underwear and his thick cock rested against his belly. She’d forgotten how big it was.

  Anisa could barely get her fingers around him.

  “Yes, Anisa. Touch it just like this,” he moaned. She rubbed the pad of her thumb along the velvety tip before dropping a dollop of saliva on it to get it nice and slick as she moved her hand up and down his length. Paris jerked his body back and forth. “What are you doing to me, woman?” he demanded as she continued to move her fist up and down.”

  Instead of answering, she lowered her head and wrapped her lips around his length before slowly moving her head down as she swallowed him inch by inch. She could hear his heartbeat speeding up and she could tell that it was difficult for him to not touch her back. Anisa was much smaller than him but here she was, dominating this big bad Alpha.

  She liked the salty, musky taste of him as the tip of his cock touched the back of her throat. But that wasn’t enough because she needed more. Relaxing her throat muscles, she swallowed him whole, taking his full length into her mouth.

  “Dammit, let me touch you!” he demanded.

  Anisa’s response was to place one hand on his chest and hold him down signaling to him that she didn’t want him to move. With her free hand, she cupped his balls and fondled them as she lifted her head until only the tip remained in her mouth before swallowing him again. She’d had sex with Roland and Gaspard, who’d both been generous lovers. They’d taught her all that she knew. She’d learned how to receive and give pleasure. But while her sexual romps with them had been pleasant, there was something different about being with Paris. It was the reason they’d nearly ended up having sex back in Athens. There was this indescribable sensation that she couldn’t explain that seemed to heighten the experience. She’d never been so turned on from the mere act of sucking dick.

  Anisa could feel her juices slide down the insides of her thighs. His moans were driving her crazy with need. Taking her hand off his chest, she grabbed the base of his cock and pumped with more intensity, working in tandem with her mouth.

  “Agapitós!” Paris roared. He bucked his hips against her, thrusting his dick further into her mouth. “I’m going to cum.” Paris attempted to pull away but she tightened her grip on his dick until a volcano of his warm cum filled her mouth. She swallowed every single drop, savoring the flavor that was uniquely him.

  She wasn’t finished, however. Anisa briefly took her mouth off of his still hard shaft and licked the length of it in an up and down motion.

  “No more,” he begged. “Please let me make love to you.”

  Finally, Anisa raised her head and stared into his passion-glazed eyes. “I don’t want to make love. I want to fuck.” And with that, she rolled off of him only to remove her panties and hike up her skirt. She then straddled him again, positioning her dripping cunt over his cock. “Put it inside of me,” she ordered.

  “Anisa, are you sure you want to do this?” Paris asked.

  “Shut up and just do it.”

  He hesitated for a moment before aligning his hard member against his entrance. Slowly, she lowered herself down on his length, gasping at the sensation of her walls being stretched to their absolute limit. She didn’t move at first savoring this decadent feeling. She dug her nails into his chest and arched her back. “Mmm!”

  He grasped her by the hips thrusting up, hitting the depths of her insides in a way that hurt and felt good at the same time.
“Fuck, you’re so tight!”

  Anisa realized that if he did that again, he would take over and she refused to allow him the control over her body. This was her moment and she had no intention of relinquishing it. Something animalist took over and she dug her nails into his chest and dragged them down his skin. “I’m running this show!” she growled. Heat emanated from her eyes and she knew they were glowing, something that hadn’t happened in years.

  She allowed her animalistic side to take over as she lifted her hips until just an inch of him remained inside of her before slamming back down on his cock. As she repeated the motion, she worked to find her rhythm until she was bouncing steadily on his dick. Every time Paris tried to join her, she’d take a swiped down his chest with her now elongated nails. She didn’t scratch him hard enough to tear into his muscles but it was enough to break skin. There were drops of blood mingled with his sweat and somehow the sight turned her on.

  As she rode him, his shaft brushed against her clit, heightening the pleasure of this fuck. Anisa watched the range of emotions play across Paris’s face as he took her. His expression was mixed with lust and confusion. She knew this wasn’t what he’d expected of her but she needed to establish that she wasn’t the same Anisa he once knew.

  “Anisa, please let me touch you,” he begged.

  She placed her index finger over his lip. “No. Lie back and enjoy.”

  She arched her back, grinding her pussy against him as a sense of power flowed over her. She tightened her muscles around his dick causing Paris to shout out. “Fuck! Anisa, I’m going to cum.” And in the next moment, she felt the warmth of his seed painting her insides.

  The added sensation sent Anisa hurtling to her own powerful orgasm. As the climax rocked her entire body, something unexpected happened. Fur started to coat her entire body and her internal organs began to move.

  It was almost painful because she hadn’t shifted in so long. She rolled off of Paris and edged off the bed. Dropping to the floor on all fours, she hunched her back and threw back her head as she released a loud howl. As her body changed, it felt as if she was being reborn. When she was in full wolf form, the only thing she wanted to do was run. The door, however, was closed.