Ridin' Red Read online

  Evernight Publishing

  www.evernightpublishing.com

  Copyright© 2013 Nikki Prince

  ISBN: 978-1-77130-445-0

  Cover Artist: Sour Cherry Designs

  Editor: Marie Medina

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.

  This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  DEDICATION

  To my girls who help me when I’m stuck on an idea: Piper, Kim, Michelle and Shyla. Thank you so very much for your friendship. Love you bunches. To my readers, thank you for keeping my dream alive.

  RIDIN' RED

  Once Upon a Dream, 3

  Nikki Prince

  Copyright © 2013

  Chapter One

  Anastasia Trumane couldn’t believe her misfortune at seeing her old boyfriend and Dom Lucien Wolf at Club Fantasy, where it was said that your fondest wishes come true. Shit, did I wish him up? She frowned as she stood in the hotel room she had been renting with her sister since Cinda had evicted them a few weeks ago. What a long story that was. Actually, it was more of a nightmare than anything else, a nightmare that she and Drusilla had caused.

  It remained a rainy, dreary day, and the rain pelted the window. She couldn’t get rid of the feeling that what was happening was just another sign that things could swiftly go from bad to worse. It wasn’t that she was upset with Cinda, because she and Drusilla deserved everything that had happened to them. It wasn’t Cinda’s fault that karma had finally caught up with them and now was kicking them in the ass.

  Why had she listened to Drusilla? She’d gone to the club, following Drusilla like a little puppy. How could she have known that Lucien would be there? That he’d still look so damn good she wanted to lick every last ab and finish that off with riding him until she was screaming his name? She pressed her forehead against the window pane and closed her eyes.

  “Lucien, please. I don’t want to go.” She could hear the urgency in her own voice.

  “You have to go. I neither want nor need you in my life.”

  “What the hell could have changed from last night to make you say that?”

  He looked so impassive standing there with his arms across his chest and actually barring her from entering his condo.

  “Take your things and go, Ana. I don’t want to see you again. I will no longer be your Dom, and you are no longer tied to me as my submissive.” And with those words he turned his back on her and went into his place, closing the door in her face. He’d left her on his doorstep with her suitcases and her dreams turning to shit.

  “Ana!” Drusilla’s screeching pulled her from her daydreaming, and she turned to look at her sister who was sitting on one of the double beds painting her toenails. Dru had the craziest expression.

  “Yes, Dru?”

  “I’ve been talking to you for the past ten minutes. What the hell are you thinking about that you’re not paying attention to me?”

  “Sorry, I sorta zoned out.” She’d been trying to ignore her sister’s incessant chatting.

  “Yeah, I can tell. I said your name five times. Now where was I? What did you want to do tonight?”

  “I hadn’t thought that far.”

  “Well, I’m tired of being cooped up in here and not going anywhere. So if you want to go with me then get ready. If not, I’m heading out. Perhaps go to a club tonight.”

  She didn’t want to go to a club. She wanted to stay in the room, and yes, mope. Okay, well, maybe not mope, but she wanted to remember the last time she’d been really happy and try to figure out a plan to get that way again.

  “You go ahead, Dru. I’m not feeling well. I’ll stay here.” Her sister rolled her eyes and made a huffing sound then shrugged.

  “Suit yourself. You need to get laid.”

  Leave it to Dru to make it sound so visceral. So blunt and mannish.

  “You’re probably right about that, but yeah, I’m fine.” She turned back towards the window and saw that the rain was lifting. It was a perfect time to order in and get cozy in the bed with a good book. If she couldn’t have her Prince Charming like Cinda, perhaps she could dream about having one and live vicariously through fiction. Love was a fantasy anyway. If she’d learned anything from her encounter with Luc, it was that love was fleeting and not real.

  Drusilla sniggered from her corner of the room, but Anastasia didn’t bother to look around. “Fine? Fine, you say? Hmmph, not even close, but if you like it, I love it.”

  Drusilla didn’t say anything more and for that Anastasia was thankful. At this point in her life, she was getting tired of Dru’s incessant opinions and whining. It was getting harder and harder to ignore her. So it was best Dru was going out for the night.

  She was a fool. All this time and she was still wondering what Lucien was up to. He’d kicked her to the curb, not the other way around, so she supposed that was the reason she still thought of him. She wanted to touch him, to kiss him, to melt into his touch and be called his baby girl once more. Those were all foolish dreams. The derision on his face when he’d seen her at the club had been potent.

  The guards had separated her from Drusilla in the beginning and as luck would have it, Lucien was given the task of watching her until he’d been relieved of his post. He’d stood at the door not talking to her; it was the worst thing of all to have his silence.

  “Lucien,” she’d said softly. He hadn’t even turned her way. He just stared straight ahead.

  “Please, Luc, talk to me.” That was when he’d turned to look at her.

  “What is it you want me to say, Ana?” Eyes as blue as ice bore into her, making her shiver and want to hide herself from his gaze.

  “I don’t know, but I don’t want you to just stand there as if we don’t know one another.”

  “The Ana I knew before wouldn’t have done what happened here tonight.”

  “You’re probably right about that. Though the Ana you knew is no longer. You made sure of that when you made me leave.” Luc had frowned, his lips tightening, and just when she thought he’d say something in his defense, the door had opened.

  Those last words had ended their conversation as he’d once again turned into ‘Captain-don’t-give-a-fuck.’ The owner of the club had come in, and there wasn’t a chance to even come close to talking to him again.

  The one thing that remained a constant was the need she was feeling for a man who wanted nothing to do with her. Absently, she listened to Drusilla moving about the room and getting ready for her night on the town. The single nice thing was that Dru would party until it was the next day and at least she wouldn’t have to be bothered with her fussing or trying to steer her in any one direction. She didn’t know how long she stood there looking out the window. The silence was beautiful, only to be cut by the sound of Drusilla leaving, and she wasn’t even sure if she’d said goodbye.

  Maybe a nice warm shower would cool the ardor rushing through her body. She’d do anything to forget him, to stop the dreams that only held his image and his touch. Turning she strolled to the bathroom, stripping out of her shorts and tank top, tossing them into the small hamper in the bathroom. She gathered her hair into a bun and pinned it up.

  She adjusted the water to the heated temperature she liked and stepped in, closing the sliding glass door and letting the water hit her body full blast. Bracing herself with her hands she leaned forward, placing her face into the water. Anastasia grabbed her cloth t
hat was hanging in the shower and lathered it after leaning back. Her body still hummed with unrequited desire. Fuck, it was going to be a long, long night.

  Perhaps Drusilla was right, She needed to get good and nailed by some unnamed, faceless cock. She didn’t want to know who fucked her. She wanted hard and fast sex. The man or men who gave that to her didn’t have to be someone she knew; in fact, she preferred it if she didn’t know them. Anonymous sex. It was fast becoming a craving. Hard, quick, and animalistic.

  She cupped her wet breasts, which were heavy and achy and in dire need of being sucked and licked. Slowly she pulled and tugged at both nipples, a moan tumbling forth from her parted lips. Her hands were no substitute for the rough and callused hands of a man. They’d have to do. She rested back against the cool shower tile, one hand cupping her breast and the other moving down slowly to cup her pussy and tease over her clit. Her labia was swollen, and she was wet.

  Fire speared through her, and the only way to assuage the need was to plunge two fingers knuckles deep into her aching, weeping pussy and fuck herself. It wasn’t going to take long for her to come at all. Her inner muscles were already clamping down on her fingers and drawing them in deep. Soon she was dreaming it was Luc touching her and bringing her to the edge. That imagery pulled her straight into a much needed orgasm, and she came hard, screaming his name as it echoed through the small room.

  It wasn’t enough, yet it had to be. There was no more Luc and Ana. Not wanting to dredge up any other old memories of him, she quickly showered then got out, and pulling on a fluffy hotel robe, she exited the bathroom. The nice thing that Cinda had done for them was make it possible that they could still live in some ease. She owed her some thanks, for truly she hadn’t had to do even that. She dressed and then pulled back the covers, grabbed her book and was about to settle into the bed to read when there was a knock at the door.

  Chapter Two

  Who on earth could that possibly be?

  “Just a second,” she called out.

  What if something had happened to Dru? As much as Dru pissed her off, she didn’t want anything to happen to her. She hurried to the door, unlocked it and jerked it open. Her eyes widened, and she stood there with her mouth agape.

  “Hello, Red.”

  Still she couldn’t find her speech. Her fantasy come to life stood in the doorway. The pet name he’d given her flowed like honey off his tongue.

  “Going to let me in?”

  “No!” She proceeded to shut the door, and he stopped it with his booted foot.

  “Come now, Red, let me in…”

  “Leave, Luc. We have nothing to say to one another that hasn’t already been said.”

  “Is that any way to treat an old friend?”

  “Friends? Is that what we are?” Why does he have to look and smell so good? Why is he here?

  “We were more than friends once, Red.”

  “I seem to recall you’re the reason that ended. Now please, just go.” He didn’t budge, and she let out a sound of frustration. They’d be at this all night; he was as stubborn as hell. She held the door open. “Come in and say what you want, then go.”

  “Thank you, Red.”

  “Don’t thank me just yet. I may just fucking kick you in the balls as retribution.” He entered the suite, and she closed the door, turning to watch him warily.

  “I’d more than deserve that.”

  “Get to talking, Lucien.”

  “Since our encounter at the club, you haven’t been far from my mind.”

  She gave a small sniff. “The fuck you say.”

  He held up his hand. “Please let me finish.”

  She sighed and crossed her arms over her chest, focusing her eyes on the lamp just behind his shoulder. Never him. If she looked at him, all would be lost. Just being this close to him had her heart racing. It was so loud she marveled that he couldn’t hear it.

  “Finish, please. I was just about to read and turn in for the night.” Damn, she sounded so exciting.

  “The Ana I knew didn’t turn in early.”

  “You never really knew me, Lucien.”

  “Fair enough. I want to remedy that. Let me get to know you.”

  She brought her eyes to his quickly. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me, Lucien Wolf.” That was when she noticed he’d taken advantage of her not looking at him and was now only inches from her. She stepped back until she was forced against the door.

  “You smell so good, Red.” He wasn’t touching her yet, his hands on either side of her head on the door. His lips inches from hers, his warmth emitting from him, the unique scent that was his wafted about, and she groaned. He put his nose to the pulse at her throat, and she whimpered.

  “Stop…” It sounded weak even to her ears.

  “You just came, Red. I can smell it on you. Fuck, too bad I wasn’t here.”

  Those words galvanized her into action, and she pushed against his chest. Of course, he was resistant and didn’t budge. The heat of his skin through his black t-shirt seared her. She drew her hands away and fast.

  He grabbed one of her hands and placed it back on his chest over his heart and held it there all the while his ice-colored gaze held hers. He made her feel so small in comparison. At 6’6” he dwarfed her.

  “I don’t have time for games, Lucien. Stop this. Whatever this is, you need to stop it.”

  “Feel my heart, Ana, my sweet.” His heart beat strongly beneath her fingers, the cadence mesmerizing.

  “Luc—” he cut her off.

  “No, listen. It was a mistake to make you leave. I tried to stay away, but seeing you a few weeks ago just brought to light that I shouldn’t have ever let you go.”

  “How did you find me?”

  “Cinda told me where you were. I asked her, though it took a bit of cajoling. She didn’t understand how I even knew you.”

  “I kept my time with you my secret. I didn’t share it with anyone, least of all Cinda. She and I, if you haven’t noticed, aren’t close. Though that little problem is mostly by my design and Drusilla’s,” she half-muttered to herself.

  “Listen, Red, I know I don’t deserve to ask you this, but I want another chance.”

  “I’m not the same person, Lucien. You said it yourself. There is no going back.”

  “I’m not asking to go back, baby girl. I’m asking to go forward.” He cupped her cheek, and then stroked his fingertip along her earlobe. She shivered. It was his signature move with her and in the next moment his hands were at her throat. He used his thumbs to stroke up and down both sides of her neck as he held her. She bit her lip in reaction. The years slipped away, and she was a submissive to his master again. There was a time when she’d have done anything he asked. Had that changed? It was a question she didn’t know the answer to, least not yet. Part of her wanted to tell him to leave, to never come back. The other part of her wanted to hold on tight to him and never let him go.

  “Luc, some things we are never meant to go back to.” All the while what ran through her head was not looking him in the eyes. There was something about his gaze that seemed to capture her soul.

  “Look at me, baby.” Fuck, a command. An order that she was hard pressed to refuse. He had to know she was in his thrall when she did it. Perhaps this time it wouldn’t happen. It had been long enough that his spell couldn’t be woven again.

  Raising her gaze to his, she was lost. “See me, Red, really see me.” Feral, animalistic, all the things she’d craved for so long. She blinked as the image of a large, black wolf loomed before. She gasped and struggled to get out of his grasp. No surprise that she couldn’t, but that didn’t stop her from crying out and struggling against him.

  “Ana, stop! I won’t hurt you.” He shook her by her arms. She grabbed him by his forearms.

  “Let me go! Oh my god, just let me go!” She was shivering, her whole body shaking with fear and emotion.

  “Red, please … if you’ve never listened to me, do it now. I won’t
hurt you. I know this is a fucking sucky way to reveal who I am to you. I should have done it years ago.”

  “You’re fucking right you should’ve! You’re a fucking werewolf! How is that even fucking possible?”

  “Yes, I’m a werewolf. There are many creatures of legend walking about and hidden from humans. Anastasia, I won’t hurt you.” Something in his voice calmed her, and she believed him.

  “Why?” One word, but it held her heart in it.

  “You’re my mate.”

  “Mate, Lucien?” Most would have thought it an odd choice of words. She didn’t. She’d always sensed that Lucien was different somehow. There were other beings out there, other than humans. Her sister Drusilla always told her she was silly to fill her head with such nonsense from books.

  “Yes, my mate, you’re my mate,” he repeated yet again.

  “Tell me, do you often shun your mates?” She couldn’t resist that jab at him. He’d hurt her, and she was going to let him know it. Letting him get away with that would never do.

  He winced. “I was young, stupid, and very scared of the responsibilities that were laid at my feet.”

  “You, afraid?” She frowned. “Impossible.”

  He chuckled. “I assure you, Red, I’ve been afraid.”

  “I can’t accept this, Lucien. I have a lot of stuff going on.”

  “Do you mean your continuing to be under your sister’s thumb?”

  “What I do is no longer a concern of yours. I’m sure you’ll be able to find another mate.” Her words were meant to hurt him. They had the desired effect as she watched him grimace, and he took his hands from her body and stood back.

  “I know this is a lot to throw at you, all at once.”

  “You think?” She pushed away from the door and opened it. “You need to go, Lucien. There is nothing for you here.” She wrapped her arms around herself, bereft, cold, and definitely at a loss.