Protected Hearts (Durant Brothers Book 2) Read online

  “Hi. I’m Emma Starr.” She stood up and shook hands with Audrey and then held out her hand to Forrest.

  “I have my first sister.” Forrest ignored her hand and pulled Emma into a bear hug.

  Stunned, Emma stood there wrapped in Forrest’s arms and staring helplessly at his mate.

  A deep growl filled the room. “Let my mate go.”

  Forrest let go of Emma and turned to face his brother. “I’m not after your mate. I have my very own beautiful mate.” He reached for Audrey’s hand and pulled her close to him. “I was only hugging my new sister.”

  Emma walked over to Wes. “I now have a brother and a sister.”

  “Actually two brothers,” said Forrest.

  Wes closed his eyes and shook his head. “Audrey can you do something with him? Like maybe a muzzle or a choke collar?”

  Audrey rolled her eyes. “Sorry, I haven’t found anything that works. Besides I like him as he is.” She smiled at Forrest.

  So much for it being just the two of us tonight. Emma patted Wes’s arm. She smiled at Forrest and Audrey. “It’s nice to meet you. Would you like to sit down?” Emma gestured to the sofa and chairs.

  “We brought one of Courtney’s cherry cheesecakes from the bakery.” Audrey held up a white box. “Forrest said it’s Wes’s favorite desert.”

  “Wes, why don’t you help me with plates, forks and coffee,” said Forrest.

  “Don’t forget a knife to cut the cheesecake.” Audrey set the white box on the coffee table.

  Forrest went to the kitchen without waiting for his brother.

  Wes sighed. “I’ll be right back.” He kissed Emma’s cheek and followed his brother into the kitchen. “Stay away from my coffeemaker. You broke the last one because you didn’t know how to operate it.”

  “How was I to know that wasn’t where you put the water. If you had a simple coffeemaker like a normal person it wouldn’t have happened,” said Forrest. “That thing is way too fancy.”

  Emma sat down on the sofa and looked at Audrey. “So how did you meet Forrest?”

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Emma closed the dishwasher and turned it on. She picked up a dish towel and dried her hands. “The dishes are done.” She started wiping the counter and around the sink.

  “I’m almost finished.” Wes picked up the white bakery box that Audrey and Forrest had brought with them about three hours earlier. Wes wiped off the table.

  “Do you need any help?” Emma hung the towel over the oven door handle. Leaning against the counter she had just wiped clean, she watched Wes put the rest of the cherry cheesecake into the refrigerator.

  “That’s it. We’re finished.” Wes looked around the kitchen. “That actually went quick. Thank you.”

  “Told you it would. And you’re welcome.” Emma yawned. “Excuse me,” she said covering her mouth.

  Wes walked over and pulled her into a hug. “Tired?”

  “It’s not the company.” Emma yawned again. “I’m normally getting ready for bed by now. My mornings usually start at seven.”

  “I need to get you home.” Wes kissed the top of her head. His growled at the thought of taking their mate home. “But it’s just for tonight.”

  Emma leaned back and looked at him. “Is that right?” she asked with a smile.

  “It is. Starting tomorrow night, I want you in my den and in my bed. It’s where you belong.” Wes caressed the side of her face. He didn’t see the scars. He only saw his beautiful mate.

  “Really? Maybe I want to keep my own place.” Emma tried to sound serious but was having a difficult time pulling it off.

  Wes growled. “Not happening! It’s bad enough that you won’t be in my den tonight.” He pulled her tight against his body. The feel of her endless soft curves excited him. He wanted to strip off her clothes and leisurely explore each one.

  Emma bit her bottom lip. She didn’t want to be separated from Wes either. It didn’t matter they had only known each other a few hours. Because of her dreams, she was already in love with him and the fear of losing him loomed over her heart. She already knew she would do everything in her power to protect him even if it meant sacrificing herself to do so. Emma wrapped her arms around his waist and cuddled against him. His warmth hugged her like a soft blanket. Resting her cheek on his broad chest, she heard his heart pounding. “I have to be at the bookstore early in the morning and I…”

  Wes hugged her. “I’m not trying to pressure you to do anything you’re not ready for.”

  “You’re not pressuring me. I’ve dreamed about you for months.” Emma tensed. “You do remember I’m a witch.” That fact worried her. she had been taught that shifters and witches didn’t mate. In fact, she only knew of one witch and shifter mating and that was Ivy and Ben Anderson.

  “You’re a witch and I’m a shifter,” said Wes. “It doesn’t matter to me. You are my beautiful mate.”

  Emma was afraid to look into his eyes. She didn’t want to see any doubt that might be there. “Are you sure?”

  “I’ve never been more sure about anything in my life. You are mine.” Wes closed his eyes and swallowed. He was sure about Emma being his mate. The fact she was a witch didn’t bother him in the least. But could he protect her from the hunters? His bear assured the man it would protect their mate, but the man had lingering doubts.

  “Wes?”

  “It’s getting late. I need to take you home, but just for tonight.”

  Emma nodded. She wished she had thought about grabbing some clothes. Emma wondered what Wes’s reaction would have been if she had brought a bag with her on their date. “Okay,” she said softly.

  *****

  Wes drove around the side of the bookstore and parked in the empty space next to Emma’s car. “I’m going to follow you home,” he said as he helped her out of the truck.

  “I live in a duplex over on Walnut and 9th Street.”

  Wes took her car keys and unlocked the car. Before he let her get into it, he made sure no one was in or near the vehicle. He knew he was being over protective, but he didn’t care. Her safety was the number one priority. “I’ll be right behind you,” he said when he finally let her get into the car.

  “Be careful,” said Emma.

  Wes closed her door and waited for her to lock it and start the engine. Once he was satisfied she was ready, he got back into his truck.

  Emma backed out of her parking space and drove to the corner of the street. Stopping at the red light, she glanced in the rearview mirror. She watched Wes stop behind her.

  When the light turned green, Emma drove through the intersection. Two blocks later she turned left. She made a couple more turns until she finally pulled into the driveway in front of her duplex. Wes parked behind her as she got out of her car.

  He walked over to her and put his hand on the small of her back as they walked up the sidewalk toward her front door.

  Emma put her house key into the lock. “Would you like to come inside for a cup of coffee?”

  Wes nodded. “I would like that but…”

  Emma shook her head. “No buts.” She unlocked the front door. “Welcome to my home. Well, my home for at least for one more night.” She winked at her mate.

  He walked inside. “Maybe less,” said Wes in a raspy voice. His bear was close to the surface. The sweet scent of her desire caused his heart to beat faster. His uncomfortable jeans grew tighter as he followed her into the house.

  Emma closed the door. She took a deep breath and let it out as she rubbed her damp palms nervously on her jeans. Slowly she turned around. “Wes, I have something to…”

  The growl was her only warning.

  Before she could finish the sentence, Emma found herself pinned against the door with Wes’s lips sealed to hers.

  The kiss deepened. Wes’s hands slipped under Emma’s shirt. She whimpered from the sensory overload. She kissed him back with the same intensity and need.

  When the kiss ended, Wes stepped back and stared at
his mate.

  She stared back at him as she gasped for air. “Wow! That was unbelievable.” Her lips tingled from his possession.

  “I’ll second that. It was amazing but then you’re amazing.” He pulled her back into his arms.

  Emma stared up into his eyes. She let out a soft gasp when she saw the eyes of a predator staring back at her. She wasn’t afraid just startled. She knew his animal wouldn’t harm her.

  Wes took advantage of her parted lips and kissed her again. He ended the kiss and started trailing kisses down her neck.

  Emma clung to him. Her legs trembled from the passion overload. His sharp teeth scraped across her soft skin at the juncture of her neck and shoulder in the exact place where she knew he would mark her for all to see. The knowledge sent a ripple of desire through her body. Emma moaned.

  “Bedroom,” growled Wes. The sweet scent of her desire wrapped around him.

  “Door to right of kitchen. You can’t miss it. There’s a lamp on,” she said between gasps.

  Wes picked her up and carried her to the bedroom. He gently put her down on the bed and stared at her in the soft lamp light. “You are my mate and I want you more than I wanted anything in my life. But you have to know the truth about my world. The hunter who kidnapped Audrey was just the first one. Other hunters will follow and I…I’m afraid I won’t be able to protect you from them.”

  Emma slid off the bed. Walking over to Wes, she reached up and she touched the side of his face with her hand. “There are a lot of dangers in this world, and unfortunately there are no guarantees. You and I both know that because we have both lost our families. All we can do is try to protect ourselves and each other. I know more hunters will come but I have one huge advantage that Audrey doesn’t have. I’m a witch.”

  Wes closed his eyes. It looked as if he was battling with his animal. He put his hand over hers and leaned into her touch. “If you…”

  “Look at me,” Emma said gently.

  Wes opened his eyes.

  “I’m overweight and scarred. Because of those things I’ve been afraid to open my heart to anyone, and then I started dreaming about my mate…about you. I want you as my mate, if you…if you want me.”

  Wes growled. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her tight against his body. “Can you feel that? I’ve been like this since I meet you this morning. I can’t think of anything else but you. I want you…all of you and not just for tonight. I want you forever.”

  Emma felt his erection pressing against her belly. Her womb tightened in anticipation. Her panties grew damp. “Then do something about it, because I want you. I need you.” She tilted her head, exposing her neck and shoulder to him.

  The scent of her desire hit him hard. The sight of her silent invitation to mark her drove man and beast over the top. He grabbed the hem of her shirt and pulled it over her head and tossed it across the room. He stared at her lace covered breast. “Beautiful,” he whispered. He reached behind her and unhooked the bra. Slowly he slid the straps off of her shoulders and down her arms. The scraps of lace fluttered to the floor.

  Wes slowly teased the rosy tips with his thumbs. He lifted breasts to his lips. He licked and teased first one tip and then the other. Wes stepped away from Emma. He stared at her. “Take off your jeans.”

  Emma nibbled her bottom lip. Her belly quivered with excitement. Slowly she unbuttoned her jeans and unzipped them. She felt her cheeks heat up under his intense gaze. Nervously, she slid the jeans and her panties down over her ample hips and past her knees.

  Wes saw her scars when down the length of her body on her left side. He reached out and traced it down the side of her body with his hand.

  “They think that when I was thrown from the car, I must have slid across some sharp metal or maybe a piece of jagged glass. I heard some of the nurses say that it as if someone had pulled me out of the car and then left me.” Emma spoke in a quiet voice.

  “Was there any internal damage? Can you still have cubs?” asked Wes.

  “I can still have cubs. And yes, I want children.” She looked at Wes. “But it’s going to be kind of hard to do that if you keep on all of your clothes.”

  “Sassy aren’t you?” He grinned at her. Wes took off his shirt and dropped it next to her clothes. His jeans were quickly added to the pile of clothes.

  Emma stared at the smooth hard muscles of her mate’s stomach. She stepped closer to him and timidly put her hands on his chest.

  He stood perfectly still while she slowly explored his chest and stomach with soft caresses. He moaned when she wrapped her hand around his cock and slowly caressed it. Wes grabbed her wrists and brought her hands up to his lips. He kissed one and then the other. “My turn.”

  Emma gasped when he picked her up and put her into the middle of the bed. She watched him as he stared at her.

  Wes grabbed her ankles and pulled her closer to him.

  “What are you going to do?” she asked.

  He grinned. “I’m going to taste the sweet honey you’ve been teasing me with all evening.”

  Emma wasn’t sure if was her stomach, her womb, or both that fluttered at meaning behind his words.

  Wes pulled her closer to the edge of the bed and knelt down. He caressed her legs as he slowly spread them. He smiled at the sight of her weeping pussy. Gently he put one of her legs over his shoulder and leaned down. He felt his bear push closer to the surface. It wanted to taste their mate too. Wes slowly licked the outer lips of her pussy getting his first taste of her sweet honey.

  Emma jerked and moaned with pleasure.

  Wes growled his satisfaction. He had barely started and she was already super responsive. It was going to be a pleasure making love to her. He slowly twirled his tongue around her clit. Using his fingers, he caressed the sensitive nub.

  Emma panted and jerked but he held her where he wanted her and pressed a finger into her weeping channel. He licked and sucked her clit. Her muscles tightened around him and she screamed his name as the first waves of her release crashed over her.

  Emma rode the wave of pleasure Wes had created. Never in her life had she experienced anything like it. The orgasm she got from her toys paled in comparison to the real thing.

  Wes moved up her body, kissing each curve and scar. “You are beautiful.”

  She opened her eyes and stared at her mate. Her bottom lip trembled.

  “What’s wrong, baby?” asked Wes.

  “I have a confession.”

  “And what is that?”

  “I have toys but I’ve never been with a man. You are my first.” She couldn’t believe she was actually telling him this especially with his cock resting against her pussy.

  Wes’s face lit up. “And I will be the only man to touch and taste this gorgeous body.” He rested his weight on one arm and caressed her face with his other hand. “Will you be my mate, my friend, my lover, and the mother of my cubs?”

  Emma smiled. “I would be honored to be your mate, to have you as my friend and lover, and I want you and only you to be the father to our cubs.” She pulled his face down to hers and kissed him.

  “You realize you could become pregnant tonight.”

  “I’ve wanted a mate and family for so long. If the goddess has it in her plans for us to have cub now, so be it. I won’t be upset. Will you?”

  “I want you. If a cub is in our near future, I will be a very proud father.” Wes eased into her, letting her adjust to his size.

  The slow possession was agonizingly pleasurable, but Emma needed more. “Please. I need you to make love to me.”

  “I don’t want to hurt you.”

  “Make me yours now, my sweet mate,” demanded Emma.

  Wes pulled back and plunged into her warm depths. He repeated the move, and each time Emma arched her hips to meet him. Wes fought to hold out until she came again, but her muscles tightened around his cock and caressed it in the most intimate way.

  “More. Please.”

  He answered her
plea by plunging into her hard and faster. In seconds he felt her tense. She screamed his name as the first wave of pleasure washed over her. “Mine!” Wes growled and bit deep into her shoulder as the first of his seed coated her womb.

  The bit sent Emma into another orgasm. She couldn’t think. She could barely breath. All she could do was cling to her mate as wave after wave of pleasure crashed through her.

  Wes licked the wound on her shoulder so it would stop bleeding and start healing. He gently pulled out of her. With a kiss, he got out of bed and went into the adjoining bathroom. He came back with a warm wet washcloth and gently cleaned Emma. After disposing of the washcloth, he climbed into bed with her.

  “You are my soul mate. I love you, my heart’s mate,” whispered Emma as she tucked herself against Wes’s warm body. Her wrist grew warm and itchy but sleep claimed her before she even thought to look at it.

  “Sleep. I will keep you safe.” He pulled the comforter over them and draped his arm over her waist. He listened to her breathing as it evened out with sleep. “I love you,” he whispered. He wasn’t sure why he suddenly couldn’t say the words to her while she was awake. He knew he loved her and had from the moment he met her in the bookstore. If only he could keep her safe from the hunters. Sleep finally claimed him.

  CHAPTER SIX

  The next morning Emma woke to the rich scent of fresh brewed coffee. She rolled over and stretched. She was slightly sore but when she remembered how she got that way, she smiled and blushed. Sitting up, Emma pushed her pillow up against the headboard and scooted back before she turned on the lamp on the nightstand next to the bed. She started to pull the cover up over her chest when she saw the mark on her left wrist. Slowly she lifter her arm and inspected the intricate ring of scrolls and quills encircling her wrist.

  She remembered her wrist growing warm and itchy as she drifted off to sleep. She was just too sleepy to even think about what it meant. Emma knew heart’s mates wore matching designs encircling their wrists, but no one had ever told her how they appeared and she hadn’t overheard anyone talking about it.