so. If it wasn’t for him already being bonded, Poppy could imagine really falling for the guy. But Adam had been the first man to see past the scars. She glanced at Adam’s back for a fleeting second, wondering if he could see past them enough to see the woman dying to be loved.
Shaking her head at the silliness of it, she concentrated on what the group had to say.
“We need to find out what happened. We need to find the true alpha of the Beyer West pack,” William said.
“He’s dead. How can he help?” Jason queried.
“Because it all started with his death. We find him. We find our answers about how James was able to do this.” William relayed everything Katie had told him to. They needed to find the Alpha. They were on the right path.
“Well, that means me, then.” Poppy stepped forward, closer to the light.
“Why you?” Jason contained his anger but not his revulsion.
“I find dead people. How else are you going to find a really old, dead alpha without me—a necromancer?”
All the men looked at her.
“We should send a party,” Robert said.
“No, you shouldn’t.” Katie was standing at the door.
William moved to her side, supporting her.
“Poppy can go. There is no danger on this mission other than what she seeks. The rest of us are needed here. To protect Beyer West.”
Poppy saw how attentive William was towards Katie, and a small part of her yearned to have a man think like that about her.
“I’ll go with her.” Adam held up his hand. “I can keep up to date with you guys and be there as protection for Poppy if something does go wrong.”
They all nodded agreement.
“We leave tomorrow at sundown,” Adam said once the others had left.
“I could do this a lot faster without your help,” she argued.
He came closer, crowding her. “I’ll be there to protect you.”
Poppy gasped. No one had ever wanted to protect her before. He brought his palm up and stroked her cheek. She opened her eyes wide and struggled to find breath…then he was gone.
She touched her cheek in wonder. Maybe answering the call was going to open up a whole new world of possibilities.
* * * *
“Shouldn’t we stay behind?” Katie asked as William took her in his arms and escorted her up the winding staircase.
“Nope, they can handle everything else. I’m spending some time with my mate and trying to convince her about starting a wave of little vampire witches for the next generation,” he teased.
Within seconds he had them both naked and in bed, luxuriating in the heady feelings of each other.
“I don’t want you going through that again,” he said as they held each other.
“I signed on for this, William. I could have refused and then you’d be dead and I’d be alone with my guilt. This was my choice and I don’t regret a single decision I’ve made. That is a promise.” She took his lips, kissing the life out of him and showing how certain she was of the decisions she’d taken.
Katie moaned as her body responded to his, instantly coming to life and showing her how much she was attuned to him. She moved the sheet out of the way and looked at him, the glorious length of his cock sticking out to attention. She reached out and touched him. He arched up, crying out in ecstasy. She felt powerful as she held his heat within her palm and knew she could give him either pleasure or pain.
“You’re so soft,” she moaned as he grasped her hips and he placed her knees to either side of his head. Katie squealed as he penetrated her slit with his tongue. She ground her pussy against his face, instinct taking over. The sensations engulfed her. She looked down at his cock and knew what he wanted, what she wanted to do. She touched him again, feeling the pulsing life within her hand.
A small burst of light shone from the lamp and she got a visual of her head bobbing up and down in his lap. Katie smiled. Her pussy creamed against his face. She grabbed his cock and encircled the tip with her mouth, tasting his salty essence.
“Yes, take me in your mouth,” he encouraged her. Katie let the images take over, showing her what he wanted her to do and what he liked. She took him to the back of her throat and tasted him. Coming up to circle the tip with her tongue, then