For Her: A Malsum Pass Novel Read online

  Alek released her to pace away and then back again. He opened his mouth to argue more and Daisy forestalled him. “You said those women are so traumatized that they may never recover, but if they weren’t you’d use them wouldn’t you? You’d at least try to get information from them. Am I right?”

  When he didn’t answer and just set his mouth into a mutinous line Daisy continued. “And when you free these poor women who have been abused by men, what are they greeted with? More men.” She saw Alek’s expression start to soften and she rushed on. “I could be there when you find those women, Alek. I could talk to them, be there for them, help them, and, and…” she stuttered for a moment before snapping her fingers as an idea occurred to her, “When those women are finally ready to talk, they may be able to describe their captors and I could draw them for you so you have a reference. You know, like the police do only now you wouldn’t have to involve the police because you’d have me.”

  Alek tipped his head back and inhaled loudly before he blew it out, gripped her upper arms and leaned his forehead against hers. “You are a remarkable female, Daisy Munroe. You have no idea how much I admire you right now, but it would kill me if anything happens to you.”

  Daisy pressed her body close to his and gave him her best innocent smile, “Then I guess you better take me with you and let me help so that you can keep an eye on me.”

  Alek chuckled lightly and then he kissed her.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Alek tunneled his fingers through Daisy’s hair, the silky strands caressing the backs of his hands as he held her in place and deepened the kiss. Never in his life had he ever felt so connected to another person and he wanted to keep her by his side always.

  He felt her purr and push closer to his body in a demand for contact. Her lush mouth opening under his and returning his kiss full measure. Her fingers were busily working at the bottom of his shirt to pull it free from his pants and press her hands against his skin. She was making needy little whimpers as her fingers clenched on his back.

  God he wanted this woman. He wanted to take her to the floor and peel every piece of clothes from her lithe body and reveal it to his greedy gaze. He wanted to kiss every inch of her creamy skin until she was begging him to fill her. He wanted to touch her, taste her, surround her and hear her cries of completion as he pleasured her. This wonderful woman who had seen the darkness and come out untouched by it. His Daisy who was so good and pure, who wanted to help him. He who hadn’t escaped the darkness.

  Alek wrenched away panting. His back to her, jaw clenched so hard he thought his teeth would break in an effort to keep from going right back into her arms and finishing what they had started. His voice was barely human as he growled. “You deserve better than me.”

  Daisy’s voice when she spoke was like velvet against his skin. Low and plush with desire. “This was never about what I deserve, Alek. It has always been about being allowed a choice. And I choose you.”

  Alek swallowed hard, turned to face her with every intention of explaining why she could do so much better than him and almost dropped to his knees. While he had had his back turned, Daisy had stripped off her sweater. She stood before him in just her bra, from the waist up, which she was even now shrugging from her shoulders. He gaped, acting like a juvenile who had just seen his first pair of breasts. But these weren’t any breasts; these were Daisy’s breasts and what a sight they were. Small yet perfectly shaped, tipped with pert coral nipples that made his mouth water. He couldn’t move, yet he didn’t have to. Daisy moved toward him, the seductress in every step. She cupped his jaw, the tight peaks of her nipples gliding up his chest. Her hazel eyes shining with passion, she whispered, “I choose you, Alek.”

  He was lost. Releasing a low growl he pulled her in tighter and devoured her mouth, his tongue delving deep to partake of her goodness while his hands lifted to cup her breasts. Alternately stroking and plucking at her nipples while he reveled in every purr and moan she gave him. His clothes became a hindrance, wanting to feel Daisy skin to skin, he moved back slightly without breaking the kiss and used his claws to shred his shirt. His body seemed to sigh with relief as it pressed against the cool satin of her flesh.

  Daisy’s movements were becoming frantic against him as she lift a leg to wrap around his and he understood. Opening eyes that had turned gold in shift he took in their surroundings and growled low. Daisy gasped and said, “I love it when you growl,” and then pressed her mouth back to his. Alek thought for sure his dick would explode as it became even harder with those husky words.

  He broke the kiss but Daisy just moved her mouth down his jaw to his neck. He grit his teeth. She was killing him. There was no way he would survive this. “Daisy, we have to stop.” He gasped as her teeth nipped his throat.

  “No.” She growled before her tongue slicked over the bite.

  “There’s no bed,” he grit out, his control slipping with every slide of her hands across his skin.

  Daisy leaned back slightly to give him such a seductive smile he should have burst into flame right there. “Maybe making love in a hayloft is a fantasy of mine, Alek. Don’t you want to make my fantasy come true?” She finished with a small pout.

  That did it, the seductress before him just snapped what remained of his control like an overstretched rubber band. His cat took control and he growled as he took Daisy in his arms and lowered her gently to their coats on the floor. Growling purrs escaped him with every breath as he nipped, licked and sucked down her neck to her breasts. Taking one turgid peak into his mouth he stroked it with his tongue as Daisy gasped and held his head to her in a demand for more. He obliged, sucking with strong pulls that left her purring.

  Moving to the neglected breast, he loved it with equal measure. He felt Daisy’s claws against his scalp, but didn’t care if she tore him open right then. All that mattered was pleasuring this goddess in his arms. But she merely slid them over his head in a caress before sliding them to the back of neck and then to his shoulders. A slight push and he happily obliged. His little kitten was demanding to be stroked and he would not disappoint her.

  Kissing his way down her sternum and over her ribs he licked at the creamy, smooth skin of her belly. He scraped his teeth against her playfully and felt her muscles tighten in anticipation. Taking the closure of her jeans between his teeth, he pulled until it popped open. Impatient to see her fully he sat up so he was kneeling beside her to remove her shoes before he made quick work of removing the jeans and the little scrap of white lace that concealed her most intimate flesh.

  Alek continued to kneel alongside her, taking in her exquisite beauty until Daisy breathed his name, her body curling toward him in a plea for contact. Laying his head on her belly he inhaled deeply, taking in every nuance of her scent while he allowed his claws to extend just slightly so that he could stroke them over her skin in a ticklish caress. Daisy rewarded his efforts with a gasp and another deep purr.

  Turning his face he nuzzled her belly before moving between her legs. Scraping his teeth over the soft flesh of one thigh before doing the same to the other. Daisy’s pelvis was lifting of its own accord and her claws were kneading into his shoulders, her breath coming in erratic pants.

  Inhaling one last breath that left him feeling almost intoxicated with lust, Alek leaned forward to love Daisy with this most intimate kiss.

  Daisy was nearly mindless with desire as Alek licked at that bundle of nerves that was currently the center of her existence. His deep purr sending vibrations to the core of her that had her alternately wanting to push closer to him and pull away from such intensity. She purred, she gasped, she may have even growled as the pressure built. Her entire world in that moment revolved around Alek and his amazing mouth. “Don’t stop, don’t stop,” she chanted. It was so close… so close… and then it splintered. Her hips lifted, a cry of fulfillment tore from her throat as her body pulsed and throbbed, every muscle in her body seemed to spasm before it released into boneless contentment.<
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  Alek was climbing up her sated body and she smiled softly at him through heavy lidded eyes. Her hands reaching out to stroke over the expanse of muscled flesh within her reach. His eyes were pure gold right now, his cat stalking its prey and she had loved every minute of being devoured by him.

  She shot him a sultry smile and reached down to unbutton his jeans while he reached back into his back pocket and pulled out a wallet. “Let me,” she said as she took the condom from his fingers.

  Quickly shucking his jeans and boxers, Alek took the condom back and released a low growl before he kissed her lips softly. “Not this time, kitten. I want you too much, but next time...” He growled, not needing to finish the sentence.

  Daisy couldn’t stifle her grin. She felt so powerful right then. She felt sexy, and strong, and beautiful, and despite how much bigger her male was, she felt like she was in complete control. She shamelessly watched him as he rolled the condom down his impressive length, his gorgeous body hers to admire and hers to touch. She reached for him the second his erection was sheathed.

  Pulling him to her she welcomed his mouth on hers, stroking his tongue with her own as she pet and kneaded every inch of his heated flesh within her reach. Within moments her passions were reignited, a deep ache low in her belly while she throbbed below, needing to be filled. Feeling the jut of his hardness against her belly, she lifted against him to express her need. Alek immediately complied as he settled his hips between hers.

  Daisy felt the initial nudge of the blunt tip at her entrance and pushed toward it. Her breathing once again coming in gasping pants. He pushed forward a bit more and she watched as he threw his head back, his jaw hard with exertion. “You’re so tight.” He growled.

  Reaching a hand up she stroked her fingers over his clenched jaw to soothe it. “I need you, Alek. Don’t tease me.”

  As if a dam broke inside him, Alek surged forward with a groan and Daisy gasped as she took him to the hilt. She had been so wet, so ready, and her body welcomed him with a sigh as if it had been missing him her entire life.

  Alek began to move and she encouraged him with every stroke, lifting to meet him, sliding her hands over his skin, returning his kiss with everything she possessed. She felt the passion building to a crescendo, welcomed it as the waves of pleasure crashed over her, and exalted in Alek’s roar as he found his own completion inside her. In this moment, their hearts beat as one. Aleksandr Stepanov was hers and she would never let him go.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Daisy lay snuggly against Alek’s side, his shoulder her pillow and she’d never felt such contentment. “It’s snowing,” Alek murmured against her hair before he dropped a kiss on the top of her head. Daisy looked out the small window to see the big, fluffy flakes. Normally she would be cursing the continued winter weather but not even that could disturb her serenity at this moment.

  Drawing lazy patterns against Alek’s skin with a fingertip she let out an unconcerned ‘mmm’ before she yawned. She slid her toes against his calf before curling even closer into his body. Alek responded by wrapping his arm even tighter around her.

  “Cold?” He asked, nuzzling into her hair. Daisy shook her head. The little stove was holding back the chill in their love nest and she was so relaxed she could have easily fallen asleep but she was too curious right then to succumb to dreams.

  “Tell me about your parents.” She said, stroking her palm over his chest. “What were they like?”

  Alek blew out a breath while his fingertips slid over Daisy’s back in an absent caress. “I don’t remember a lot about my father. He was a big man, strong… stern. He was one of the guardians who would hunt far afield and alert the village of danger. He took his job very seriously so he was away a lot.”

  Daisy watched as Alek’s face softened and a small, sad smile played at his lips. “My mother was tall, sturdy, and severely overprotective of me. She had me late in life and thanked the heavens daily for blessing her with me. She was fierce. A force of nature.” He shook his head, pain marring his handsome face as he grimaced. “I was her weakness and she died because of me.”

  Alek shrugged out from under Daisy and rolled to his feet. Feeling the loss of his skin she wanted to call him back but he was already tugging on his jeans, his voice taking on a gruff edge. “When the traders came my mother fought them to buy me time to get away. When they grabbed me, I screamed and in her distraction as she looked for me, they killed her.”

  Daisy scrambled to her feet, needing to hold him, needing to comfort him in his moment of pain. She tried to wrap her arms around him but he moved away, bending to grab up her clothes and hand them to her. She swallowed hard as tears gathered in her eyes. Not because of his rejection of her embrace, but for the pain and guilt he had carried with him. “You were a child Alek, her child. Of course she would try to protect you.” She said as she dressed.

  “I knew better than to scream. I was weak and my weakness killed her.” He said, his back to her; his posture clearly indicative of his need for distance at that moment.

  Undaunted, Daisy pressed herself against that hard back and this time he allowed it. Sniffling, she shook her head and released a broken sob. “No, Alek, she died to protect you because she loved you and love is never a weakness. It gives strength to face our fears and overcome them. She died to give you a chance to live. It’s what mothers are supposed to do, right? Part of the maternal instinct.”

  Releasing a shuddering sigh, Alek turned and wrapped Daisy in his arms. “Please don’t cry, sweet Daisy.” He said, kissing the tears from her cheeks. “I can’t stand that I’ve made you cry.”

  Reaching up, she cupped Alek’s jaw and gave him a small, sad smile, her thumbs stroking over the growth of whiskers that were just starting to make an appearance. “I’m not crying because of you, Alek. I’m crying for you.”

  Alek reared back slightly, his confusion plain. “Why?”

  Leaning up to kiss his chin she whispered, “Because I know that you won’t.”

  Alek held her for a few moments more before he dropped another nuzzling kiss on her head and gently held her away from him. “Let’s go for a walk. I think we could both use the air.”

  Daisy was loathe to leave their cozy little love nest and join the rest of the world but she nodded and tugged on her coat. The air outside seemed much colder after the warmth of the loft, the snow, falling around them, picking up speed as the flakes became smaller. “What about your parents,” Alek said as they walked toward the woods heading further away from Malsum Pass. “What were they like?”

  Daisy stuffed her hands in her pockets and shrugged. “They were what I thought parents were supposed to be like until I left the pride. Now that I’ve seen how real parents act… the wolves with their pups, television shows I’ve seen, even what you’ve told me about your parents, I know that mine were just…” another shrug “cold.” She looked at Alek who was frowning and tried to explain it better. “It was like they were given a job to do with a list of requirements for that job and they did the bare minimum. They were told to breed, they did, otherwise they fed us, clothed us, and sent us to be educated, but I doubt they actually loved us. Not really.”

  It used to hurt, back before she understood the way things worked. When Daisy would want to be hugged or cuddled she would have to go to Lily, her parent’s simply weren’t interested. They didn’t care to see or hear about any accomplishments. They would wait for the reports from Kramer or the educators and then berate Daisy for being weak or easily distractible. She was an embarrassment to them; proof of a defect in their bloodline, and they would just as soon not bother with her. If she ever received praise from her parents, she didn’t remember it. Even Lily who excelled at everything went without praise. Why should they praise a child for doing what was expected?

  Suddenly Alek was pulling her into his arms for a tight hug. “Come back to me, solnyshko.”

  Daisy’s frown morphed into a smile and she let out a small chuckle as she sh
ook her head. “Sorry.”

  Alek kissed her forehead and then her nose. “No, I’m sorry. I saw what your town was like. I should have known your childhood wouldn’t have been all fun and games.”

  “What was that word you said?” Daisy asked, eager to change the subject. “Sol- something.”

  “Solnyshko.” Alek said with a fond smile. “It means sun or sunshine in Russian and it fits you perfectly. You have sunshine inside you that would light up the gloomiest day.”

  Daisy blushed, pleased with such a romantic compliment from this hardened male. “Teach me something to call you.” She said.

  Alek took her hand and they began walking again with no apparent destination. He let out a few hmms and tapped his index finger against his chin as if he was in deep thought. “Okay, ready?” He asked with a grin.

  Daisy nodded. “Ready.”

  Alek rubbed his knuckles over her cheek in a tender caress, “Say Dolgozhdannyi.”

  Daisy chuckled. “Well, that was a mouthful! Say it again for me?”

  “Dolgozhdannyi”

  Daisy’s face screwed up into a frown of concentration, “Dolgozh…” she began.

  Alek smiled encouragingly, “dannayi,” he said.

  “Dolgozhdannyi” Daisy said with a proud smile.

  “Perfect,” Alek beamed. Squeezing her in a hug he began walking again.

  Daisy stared after him for a moment before she hustled to catch up. “Well, aren’t you going to tell me what it means?”

  Alek grinned. “Nope.”

  Daisy stood there with her mouth hanging open in disbelief as he continued to walk away with that smug smile firmly in place. Letting loose a mischievous grin, she bent and scooped some snow in her hands. Packing it into a tight ball she lobbed the snowball at his back.