“I knew you would look good in red, but damn, that’s hot.” He urged her back onto the cutting table and stood between her open thighs. Then he kissed her deeply, exploring her mouth, wrestling with her tongue, nibbling her lips until they were both panting for air.
Her hands explored the expanse of his chest, squeezing his pecs and sliding down the tightened muscles of his abdomen to the indents just below the hip bones. She cupped his sack, slowly kneading him with one hand while the other gently pumped his shaft.
“Ronni.” Her name drifted from his lips on a ragged breath.
Seeming to know he was too close for her to continue, she moved her hands back over his hips and around to his buttocks, pulling him against her so that his cock rested against her lace-clad mound.
Forcing himself to focus, he peppered kisses between the valley of her breasts, sucking one peak and then the other. Every mewl and sigh and groan of pleasure imprinted in his brain, as did the feel of her skin, the shape of her curves and the scent of her desire.
His fingers slid down her abdomen, pushed aside the thong and slipped into her folds, stroking her lightly. Her breath faltered and her hips arched.
He wanted to taste her, to lave her with his tongue until she came in his mouth. But he was too strained with his own needful desire to delay much longer.
He dipped his fingers inside her moist, satiny heat. Her eyes closed and her body trembled as a passionate moan escaped her lips.
Oh, she was close and he had no intention of stopping. He pumped his fingers faster, rubbing his palm against her mound. Her head fell back; her breath turned to pants. Watching shades of ecstasy flicker across her face, he felt the first quiver against his fingers. “Come for me, beautiful.”
A soft, mewling growl vibrated in her throat and grew louder as she arched beneath him.
“That’s it, baby,” he said softly, keeping up the pace as her walls milked his fingers. God, she was so beautiful in the throes of orgasmic passion.
In that moment, he’d never wanted a woman as much as he wanted her, and though he ached unbearably with restraint, he would not rush her pleasure to achieve his own. Because once inside her, he would come completely undone.
* * *
Senses coming back down from the heavenly place Bodie had taken her, Ronni inched off her perch and turned around to bend across the cutting table.
“You have a beautiful ass.” Bodie kneaded the fleshy muscles.
“I’m pretty proud of it.” She wiggled it for him.
“You’re killing me.” He slid off her thong and nudged her legs farther apart.
Gasping, she welcomed the push of Bodie’s cock as he entered her. It had been so damn long since she’d had human-style sex. She missed the feeling of being filled, missed the pleasure, the release, and the scent of a man hot and ready for her.
He gripped her hips and began thrusting hard and deep. In the mirror in front of them, she saw the intensity etched on his face as he watched the rhythmic joining of their bodies.
She hadn’t known it was possible to feel so completely dominated by a human, but Bodie’s personality was as strong as any wolfan male. Yet his was a quiet strength. He used his mind to deal with problems, though he certainly had the brawn if he needed to use it.
His gaze lifted to hers watching in the mirror. Something about their reflections magnified their connection, physical and otherwise. Her entire body became sensitized by his touch and his essence invaded despite the defenses she’d tried to set up. The intimacy was overwhelming and she started to panic.
“Stop thinking so much.” His hawkish eyes glittered. “Just breathe.” His hand slipped around her and his finger stroked her mound.
A fresh rush of desire shot straight to her sex.
The warmth of his slick skin against hers, the friction of their bodies moving as one, the ebb of his essence entwining with hers were too much to resist.
She closed her eyes, allowing the second deluge of pleasure to wash through her body and soul. Her being splintered within the flood and only Bodie’s strong, steady presence kept her tethered and safe.
His body shuddering, a deep, primal male groan emerged from within his chest, then he stilled. Watching in the mirror, she saw his dark lashes flutter. Slowly, his eyelids opened, revealing the satisfied glint in his eyes.
This man, this human man, was as near to perfection as a male could get. His body was sleek and muscular, his face rugged with sharp angles and a masculine jaw. And his heat warmed not only her skin but also the dark places deep within.
Then, there was his chest. She loved his sculptured, muscular chest with dark nipples and dancing pecs that provided her amusement and comfort and assurance.
“I told you.” He turned her to face him and pressed against her. “Overwhelmed by my manliness. Yep, I called it.”
His playful tease and the bounce in his brow drew laughter from Ronni. God, how long had it been since she’d been able to really laugh? Ages, it seemed.
He tenderly brushed aside the strands of hair that had fallen across her face, then kissed her before moving away to collect their clothes.
“What is the tune you’re humming?” The melody and tone were soft and soothing.
Dressing, Bodie gave her a startled look. “I didn’t realize I was. I guess I made it up.”
“It’s beautiful.” Ronni focused on smoothing the wrinkles in her sweater. The brush of fabric caused chills to break out, an aftereffect of her skin burnished by Bodie’s caresses.
Ronni wondered how long the effect would last because it was distracting. She had a lot of work to do and no time to dwell on how incredible their coupling had been or give thought to how much she wanted it to happen again.
Standing in front of the wall mirror, she checked that her leggings and sweater were on correctly. Nothing looked too rumpled but the band holding her ponytail had disappeared. She ran her fingers through her hair to tame the wildness but she couldn’t do anything about the fire in her eyes or the glow of her skin or the healthy flush of a satisfied she-wolf in her cheeks.
Then her brain kicked in. And all the guilt followed. “I need to apologize.”
Bodie gave her a dubious look. “No, you don’t. You absolutely have nothing to apologize for.”
“I do.” She sat down on the large round ottoman in the room. “I got some disturbing news earlier.”
“Let me guess. Jeb?”
She nodded. “It’s being taken care of, so everything will be fine. But I was still hyped up about it when you came in.”
“So you used me to get it out of your system. Is that right?” His expression was unreadable.
“Yeah.” Albeit unintentionally. And in her defense, yes, his overwhelming manliness really was too much to resist. She snorted.
“Use me anytime, beautiful.” Bodie tucked his long-sleeve shirt into his pants. “You won’t hear one damn complaint from me.”
He finished dressing and walked over to Ronni. “Although, if you feel the need for penance, I have an idea.”
Capturing her in his arms, he rubbed his cheek against her jaw. “Run away with me.”
“What?” It sounded like the protest her mind put forth, but her body was already cheering at the prospect.
“Our time together has involved chaperoning the kids, deflecting Jeb, some stolen moments in between.” He made his serious face, the one that said how much he meant what he was about to say. “I want you all to myself. Let’s take a weekend, stop adulting and just have fun.”
Ronni had been adulting for most of her life, always in survivor mode from one crisis to another. Just once, she’d like to escape it, even for a few hours.
“Gatlinburg is close. Touristy but we’ll have a great time. I promise.” In his eyes, she glimpsed his loneliness beckoning her own. “What do you say, beautiful?”
You’re acting foolish and getting in way too deep. Say no, say no, say no is what her brain said. However, her mouth had a mind of its own and before she knew what it was doing, the words were already out. “How soon can we leave?”
Chapter 18
“Dad!”
“Hmm?” Bodie finished chopping the onion on the small kitchen counter and glanced over his shoulder at Willow sitting at the table, doing her homework.
“You’re humming.” She grinned. “I’ve never heard you hum.”
All Tlanuhwa had melodic voices and could hum a tune but few could actually sing.
“Sure you have.” Finished with the onions, he began dicing the peppers. “I used to hum you to sleep.”
“I don’t remember.” Willow propped her elbow on the table and rested her chin in her hand.
“You were a baby. After you turned three, you preferred a story at bedtime.” Now he was lucky to get a good-night kiss on the cheek.
“Enisi said Tlanuhwa hum when they find their mates.”
Maybe in ancient times, but with the Tribunal orchestrating mateships, the actual instinct had died out. Now a traditional humming song was used during the Pairing Ceremony.
“Did you hum when you met my mother?”
“No.” Bodie could have lied but that would only build up a fantasy in his daughter’s mind. “I didn’t hum until I held you for the first time.”
It had been the happiest moment in his life.
Hours later, he became a twenty-two-year-old widower with a newborn to raise.
“And you’re my daughter.” He shook a wooden spoon at her. “Not my mate. Your grandmother should stick to the facts instead of filling your head with silly notions.”
Pushing aside the meat already in the hot skillet, Bodie dumped in the vegetables and stirred.
The door to the camper opened. His mother stood at the bottom of the metal steps, holding a laundry basket. “Something smells delicious.”
“Dad is making stir-fry.” It had been Willow’s favorite meal since learning the dish had been Layla’s specialty. Bodie had left out the part that it was all her mother had known how to cook.
“Willow, help Enisi with the laundry basket.” Bodie’s attention returned to the stir-fry.
A moment later, there was a commotion at the door.
“Enisi! Are you all right?” Clothes bin hiked on her hip, Willow stood halfway between her grandmother and Bodie.
Mary clung to the metal doorframe, trying to pull herself up.
“Mom?” Abandoning the stove, he bumped Willow aside.
“I’m okay,” Mary said.
“Did you fall?” Bodie helped her to the couch.
“No, I tripped,” she told him. “Sometimes my foot doesn’t clear the threshold when I come in or go out. I’m all right, though.”
Willow carted the laundry into the bedroom and Bodie returned to the kitchenette.
“You’re here earlier than usual.” Mary no longer sounded shaken.
“I’m working a few hours tonight.” Lifting the skillet from the stove, Bodie gave the ingredients a toss, then returned the pan to the burner and dialed down the heat.
“Between work and that woman—” Mary huffed “—you’re never around. Why did you bring us here?”
“For Willow.” He didn’t want her restricted to slipping out of an apartment window and sitting in a nearby tree for a few minutes each night when she was born to soar. “The Walker’s Run Cooperative’s wolf sanctuary is the perfect place for her Transformation Ceremony and to learn how to fly. And Ronni could help us gain membership into the Co-op, which will give us all access to their protected lands. We’ll be safe.” Especially from the Tribunal, because Bodie and his family would no longer be without support.
“We can have safety among our own people. Talk to Kane. He will make a way for us to come home.”
“Maico is home now,” Bodie said, keeping his temper and his tone in check.
After what Kane had done to their family, Bodie wasn’t inclined to trust him with anything. Especially their safety.
“Once we find a place and get settled, if you want to return to the flock, I won’t stop you. But Willow and I are staying put.”
Mary grumbled unintelligible words that could’ve been curses in the ancient language he had not learned to speak.
“Once the poachers are caught, I’ll try to have a more regular routine.” Not bothering to look at her, Bodie could imagine the disapproving look on her face, having seen it so often. “But I’m not taking a desk job, so stop suggesting that I do.”
His career in wildlife management services included long hours and erratic schedules, but he loved the work. For the most part, the outdoorsmen he encountered were good people. They cared about the environment and weren’t intentional lawbreakers. If they got carried away and accidentally went over the allowable limits for fish and game, most cooperated with his investigations and paid their fines without incident.
“What if something happens to you?”
An old argument he was quite tired of rehashing.
“Nothing is going to happen to me.” Bodie turned off the burner and removed a pot of rice from the stove. “I take reasonable precautions when I’m working. If something does happen, I have plenty of life insurance.”
“She won’t care about the money any more than you did.”
“Money?” Willow walked out of the bedroom. “What money?”
“Take your homework into your room,” Mary snapped.
“I’m not a little girl!” Willow pressed her lips into a defiant frown. “Every time you argue with Dad, I don’t need to be sent to my room.” She glanced around the camper. “What am I saying? I don’t even have my own room.” Currently, she shared the one bedroom in the camper with her grandmother.
Willow packed her homework into her newly fashioned study pillow, pointed her chin at Mary and marched outside, slamming the metal door.
Bodie’s heart ached. Living in a camper was fine for him but definitely not for his family. He needed to stop worrying about finding the right place and simply find one.
His mother picked up the argument right where they left off.
Sighing beneath the weight he never seemed to get out from under, Bodie opened the cupboard and pulled out three plates. “Once Ronni and I become mates, the Co-op will look out for you and Willow, should something happen to me.” He really hoped nothing happened to him. Ronni and Alex had been through a lot. He certainly didn’t want any of them to deal with his death.
“Is it time to eat?” Willow called from outside. “I’m starving.”
Bodie gave his mother a look to signal their conversation on the matter had ended, for now.
Mary opened the door to let Willow inside. “Your father is stubborn and won’t listen to reason.”
“You tell me the same thing. Maybe you’re the unreasonable one who doesn’t listen.”
“Willow!” Bodie said sharply.
His daughter spun toward him, her eyes wide and her shoulders drawing up as if she were trying to shrink. The reprimand withered on his tongue.
“Get the glasses and silverware.”
She scurried around him without saying a word.
Bodie placed their filled plates onto the table and everyone sat down to eat in strained silence.
“Lucas asked me to be his girlfriend,” Willow practically whispered.
Bodie choked on a bite of food.
“No,” Mary said. “You’re too young.”
And he choked again.
“Dad!” Willow’s complaint was clear in her tone and the added syllables she used when saying his name. “He’s Alex’s best friend. I’m sure Mrs. Lyles will vouch for him. I really like him. Puh-leeze, Dad!”
And he kept choking.
Mary began out-talking Willow, and their shrill voices filled the camper.
Bodie slammed his fist on the table and silence fell. Finally, the spasms ceased. He held up his hand to stall any further discussion until he drank some water and calmed the irrational thoughts all fathers had when their daughters began dating.
“I want to know everything. Where you go, what you do. No sneaking around, got it?” He gave his daughter the stink eye.
“Yes, sir.” Genuine happiness brightened her eyes that had been clouded with sad resignation only a few months ago.
Coming to Maico had been the right choice for her. And for him. He glanced at his mother’s sourpuss expression, wishing he knew what was right for her.
Everyone resumed eating, though the tension in the camper did not dissipate. After supper, Willow went to the bedroom to finish her homework.
“I’m taking Ronni to Gatlinburg,” he finally told his mother, though it might’ve been smarter to wait until he was on the way out of the door with his overnight bag packed.
“I don’t think that is wise.” The disapproval on her face increased. “The Tribunal—”
“Has more things to worry about than me taking a woman on a weekend getaway.”
“You’re being reckless.”
“I’m trying to find a way for all of us to be happy.” He slammed his dishes into the sink. “Why are you against this?”
“Because this woman has aroused your beast. Every day I see more of its reflection in your eyes and I’m afraid, Bodaway. Afraid of what my son will become.”
“There is no beast. It’s incongruent with who we’ve become. But Ronni has awakened something in me,” he said, turning toward his mother. “Hope.”
And he wasn’t going to let anyone keep him from her. Not even his mother.
* * *
On Thursday morning, Ronni finished unpacking the special order of fabrics that Nel had requested. The colors and patterns perfectly matched the sketches. Still, Ronni planned to ask Nel to come to the store to inspect the material before starting the project.
The bells over the door jingled and Ronni’s body began to tingle. Like a Pavlovian experiment, every time she heard those bells, her hormones went into overdrive, expecting Bodie to walk through that door for a lunchtime rendezvous.
Captivated by the She-Wolf Page 15
