by Pamela Clare
Winona laced her fingers through his. “It was a betrayal.”
Jason looked into Winona’s guileless eyes, saw nothing there but compassion. He tried to hold back, but he couldn’t. He leaned forward—and kissed her.
The sweet shock of Jason’s lips against hers made Winona’s breath catch. Heart skipping, she leaned into the kiss, resting her palms against his bare chest. All else faded from her mind, the world around her melting away until there was nothing left but the two of them.
The searing press of his lips. The silken caress of his tongue. The spicy scent of his skin. The rapid beating of his heart beneath her palms. The hard feel of his body.
Oh, yes.
He sat fully upright, slid one big hand into her hair, and turned the two of them, bearing her back onto the mattress, his lips never leaving hers.
Anticipation shivered through her, just the weight of him arousing. It had been so long since she’d been with a man. But Jason wasn’t just any man. He kissed her like he meant it, paying attention to the tiniest details—the dip at the center of her upper lip, the outline of her lower lip, the corners of her mouth.
At last, he broke the kiss, the intensity of his gaze making her pulse skip. “Are you sure you want this?”
She caught his face between her palms, looked into his eyes. “Yes.”
He groaned and claimed her mouth once again with a blistering kiss that was as fierce and raw as it was perfect. She matched him stroke for stroke, tongues teasing, tasting, twining, her need every bit as desperate as his.
But he was ruthless, relentless.
She surrendered, lost in the rush of being overwhelmed by him. Needing more, she slid her palms up his chest and over his shoulders, savoring the satin texture of his skin, caressing the shifting muscles of his back.
God, even touching him turned her on.
He dragged his lips from hers and straddled her hips—and pulled her sleepshirt over her head, tossing it aside, leaving her completely naked.
His gaze dropped to her breasts then moved down her body, breath leaving his lungs in a rush when he saw she wasn’t wearing panties. He whispered words in his own language, then spoke in English. “You’re so damned beautiful.”
She shivered, her nipples drawing tight—and he hadn’t yet touched her.
Then a big hand closed over each breast, and she arched into him, her eyes drifting shut as he toyed with her nipples, palming her, circling her areolas with his thumbs, grazing the sensitive tips, his touch sending darts of arousal to her belly.
Oh, she wanted him, heat building between her thighs.
“Jason.” She moaned his name, opened her eyes just a sliver, and found him watching her, his pupils dilated, a smile on his lips.
She sucked in a breath, watching him as he watched the effect he had on her, the heat between her thighs now incandescent. “You’re tormenting me.”
He chuckled, gave her breasts a gentle squeeze. “I hate to tell you, but it’s going to get worse before it gets better.”
Then he stretched out beside her, lowered his head, and sucked an aching nipple into the heat of his mouth.
“Oh, God.” She moaned, her eyes closing again, her fingers sliding into his short hair. It felt so good as he feasted on one nipple and then the other, his lips tugging on her, the sharp edges of his teeth teasing her, his tongue flicking her. The heat inside her became a backdraft, her body twisting beneath him, her hips rocking upward, her body instinctively seeking release.
Without realizing it, she crossed her thighs and squeezed.
He slid a hand down her belly, nudged her thighs apart, and cupped her. “You’ve got to let me in.”
“Yes!” That’s what she wanted—him inside her.
She bent her knees, let her thighs fall open for him.
“That’s better.” He went to work on her, fingers parting her, exploring her, finding … just the right spot. “Like that?”
“Mmm, yes.”
Then his mouth closed over her nipple once more.
The combined sensations rocked Winona, sexual need like a fever now, his clever fingers driving her to the brink. She heard herself babble a mixture of Lakota and English, words mingling with moans. “Wasté kstó… aah … so good … aké … more … oh, Jason.”
Then he slid a finger inside her, stroking her inside and out.
She moaned his name, each deep thrust carrying her higher until she was hanging on the shimmering edge of an orgasm. And then she was soaring, the bliss of climax rushing through her, lifting her up, giving her body wings, then leaving her to float slowly back to earth.
When she opened her eyes, she found him still watching her, his eyes dark, the hint of a smile on his face. “Welcome back, beautiful.”
Chapter 13
Jason was an idiot. He’d led the two of them around this corner. Yes, Winona had come willingly, but he had started it.
Even so, he couldn’t bring himself to regret it. Watching her open up for him, seeing the bliss on her sweet face when she’d come—it had left him feeling more alive than he’d felt in months, not to mention horny as hell.
Maybe you should stop here. This doesn’t have to go any further.
Yeah, right.
She smiled up at him, a sensual, sexy smile, then pushed him onto his back, straddling him, her beautiful breasts swaying as she settled herself, dark nipples peeking out from between tangled strands of black hair. She ran her hands over him, explored his pecs, his shoulders, his biceps, taking her time and clearly liking what she saw, her touch making his skin burn.
“This is my favorite muscle.” Her fingertips grazed his obliques, making his abs tense. “I wish we had a condom. I’m not on the pill or—”
“One of these?” Jason pulled the condom out of his pocket and held it up.
Her face lit up, her lips curving in a sensual smile. “Oh, thank God.”
He lifted his ass off the bed so she could yank down his pajama bottoms and was about to open the condom when she stopped him.
“Wait! I haven’t gotten to see you or touch you.”
He couldn’t help but laugh. “I’m all yours.”
Her gaze shifted to his cock, her quick inhale telling him she found the sight of him arousing. Then she took his cock in hand, moving slowly from tip to base and back. “Show me what you like. I want to please you.”
I want to please you.
Her words were like a dart straight to his heart. Had Elena ever said anything like that? He didn’t think so.
He reached down, took hold of Winona’s hand, increased the pressure, sucking in a breath when she got it right. “Yeah. Like that.”
He held himself still, letting her set the pace, watching as she got used to the feel of him, the sight of her hand on his cock almost as arousing as her touch. Stroke upon stroke, she built the rhythm until he couldn’t help but thrust into her fist.
He caught her hand. “Stop.”
He didn’t want to embarrass himself by coming up short when she needed him.
He tore open the condom with his teeth, rolled it over his erection, then grasped Winona’s hips. “Come here.”
She moved up his body until she was positioned just above his cock, her palms on his chest for balance. He held himself in place for her, watching as she took him inside her, inch by inch, the two of them moaning in unison.
Sweet Jesus.
She felt so good, her body clenching around him, hot and slippery and tight. He willed himself to relax, let the tension in his muscles go. He wanted this to be good for her, too, and that meant he needed to last.
He held his hips still, giving her time to adjust to him being inside her, focusing instead on those beautiful breasts, the weight of them, the lush feel of them, the pebbled velvet of her dark nipples.
Then she began to move, rocking her hips slowly, grinding herself against him, her eyes drifting shut, her lips parting on a soft moan.
Hell, yeah.
What
she was doing would keep him hard, but it wouldn’t make him come. That was a good thing as far as he was concerned. Besides, it turned him on to see her so turned on, to watch her using his body for her pleasure, to see delight on her face again. She was so responsive, his every touch drawing a reaction, her nipples drawing tighter, goosebumps rising on her skin, sweet little sighs and moans.
Yeah, he could do this all night.
She was breathing faster now, her lips parted, her brow furrowed.
He slid his hands down her body, savoring the feel of her—her ribcage, her narrow waist, the soft curve of her hips. Then he pressed against her dark curls with both thumbs, applying pressure just above her clit.
Her eyes flew open. “Oh … yes.”
Her head fell back on a moan, silken strands tickling his thighs, her hips moving faster, his cock buried deep inside her. She was getting close now, every muscle in her body tense, her nails biting into his chest, every exhale ending with a moan.
He was so turned on that his hips instinctively bucked, and she moaned. He thrust upward again and was rewarded with another throaty moan. He thrust again—and she shattered, coming with a cry, ecstasy shining on her face.
Jason stayed with her until her climax passed. She sank against him, her cheek on his chest, her body languid, her hair spilling over them both. He gave her a moment, ran his fingers along her spine, kissed her hair, the feel of her precious in his arms.
She raised her head, smiled, kissed him.
In a single move, Jason rolled her onto her back, his cock still inside her.
She gave a little gasp of surprise, her hands coming to rest on his shoulders. “Is the Shadow Wolf going alpha on me now?”
He could tell from the way her pupils dilated that she liked that idea.
He ducked down, gently bit one nipple. “Oh, angel, I’m always the alpha.”
He flexed his hips, thrust into her, going slowly at first, then building an easy rhythm, wanting to savor this. Oh, but she felt so good, so fucking good, her body gripping him like a fist, the first hint of orgasm uncoiling inside him.
Winona met him thrust for thrust, her moans urging him on, one of her hands clenched in the sheets, the other gripping his shoulder. He willed himself to relax, to focus on her, grazing her clit with his cock, grinding himself against her—anything to slow him down and give her what she needed.
Oh, Winona…
God, she was too much. Soft curves … musk… tight heat.
Lust for her thrummed in his chest, his control unraveling thread by thread, his body trapped on that razor’s edge, caught somewhere between pleasure and pain.
She cried out his name, arching off the bed as she came, her muscles clenching around him. And the last thread of Jason’s control snapped.
With a groan, he drove into her again and again, his mind blank, instinct taking over. In the next heartbeat, it hit him, climax burning through him, molten and radiant, the bliss of it consuming him, leaving him to lie spent, his head against her breast.
Winona lay in Jason’s arms, deliciously drowsy, her leg tucked between his, her head on his chest, her body replete. She traced a finger along the furrow that bisected his abdomen, his heart beating slow and steady beneath her cheek, his fingers lazily stroking the length of her spine.
When had a man left her feeling so satiated, so safe?
Never. That’s when.
The first time she’d had sex, she’d been sixteen. Nathan had been a sweet boy, but sex had hurt and had made her bleed. Then Chaska, who’d been home from college, heard Nathan bragging to friends about taking her virginity and had threatened to kill him. Chaska had also driven her to a clinic to get the morning-after pill—and had made her swear never to have unprotected sex again until she found her half-side.
She’d been more cautious in college. During her sophomore year, she’d met a boy named Mitch, who was also a biology major. She’d ended their relationship when he’d yelled at her for confronting his roommate, who’d kept calling her Pocahontas.
She’d met Kyle in vet school. They spent a year together, Winona helping him with bio-chem until he dropped out of the program and transferred to an art school in another state. Two months later, he’d called to tell her he’d met someone new. She’d been surprised to realize she felt not heartbreak, but only relief.
She’d thought sex with Mitch and Kyle had been good—until tonight. Now she realized she’d had no idea what good sex truly was.
Jason had given her more than he’d taken. He’d put her pleasure first. He’d protected her by using a condom without being asked.
“Thank you, Jason.” She didn’t realize she’d spoken aloud until she heard herself.
He kissed her hair. “For what?”
“I’ve never come three times before.”
He raised his head, looked down at her. “You’re kidding me.”
“No.” She’d never been given enough time. But that’s not what truly mattered tonight. “Thanks for making me feel safe.”
He rolled onto his side, cupped her cheek with one big hand. “I’m not going to let anyone hurt you again. We’ll take care of this. We’ll catch this bastard, and Nate and I will set you up with a good security system. I don’t want you to be afraid anymore.”
She had to ask. “Why? Why are you doing all of this for me?”
“I’ve met too many Native women who’ve been hurt in this world. I can’t know what you’ve been through and not want to help.”
His answer disappointed her.
“So, this is just political—help your Native sister with her security issues and ply her with fantastic sex to take her mind off the bad guys?”
He grinned. “Fantastic sex, huh?”
But she was serious. “Why?”
For a moment, he was quiet, a thoughtful frown on his face. “I can’t stay here in Scarlet Springs, Win. You know that. But I do care about you. We have a connection. I know you’ve felt it, too. We might not be able to do anything with it, but it’s there. I can’t see what you’re going through without wanting to make it better. Is that what you wanted to hear?”
“Yes.” Winona didn’t think she’d ever gotten this kind of honesty from a man—other than Chaska and her grandfather, of course.
No wonder she felt safe with Jason.
He deserved the same honesty from her.
She kissed a flat, brown nipple. “I care about you, too. No matter what happens, I’m going to remember tonight.”
“So will I.” He wrapped his arms around her, held her close, pressed a kiss against her forehead. “Sleep, angel.”
Winona closed her eyes and drifted into a deep, dreamless sleep.
Jason woke at his phone’s first beep, reached for the damned thing, and shut off the alarm. He didn’t want to wake Winona.
She was sound asleep in his arms, curled up against his chest, peace on her face, the sight of her putting an ache in his chest.
He’d meant it when he’d said he cared about her. He’d only known her for a few days, but it seemed much longer. He was going to miss her when he returned to Sells.
You have only yourself to blame for that.
Fantastic sex, she’d said. It had been incredible for him, too. It was the first time in almost five years that he’d had sex with a woman other than Elena, and it had shown him what he’d been missing.
I want to please you.
Winona had such a generosity of spirit. Everything she did came from her heart. She was straightforward, genuine, honest.
Elena only cared about herself. She’d treated sex like a reward for good behavior, making Jason wait, using his attraction to her to get what she wanted. He’d been so blinded by lust that he’d seen only the package—the pretty face, the curvy body, the vivacious personality. He’d overlooked the excessive makeup, the fake nails, the obsession over new clothes and shoes, the selfishness, the manipulation.
The DEA did you a favor.
That was the trut
h.
Doing his best not to wake Winona, Jason got out of bed, grabbed his pajama bottoms off the floor, and tiptoed to his room, shutting the door behind him. He took a leak, washed up, and dressed in his warmest clothes, then grabbed his gear and headed downstairs to the kitchen.
Nate and Jack were already there, coffee ready, scrambled eggs, bacon, and hash browns on the stove. While they ate, Nate went over the plan.
“Dad will stay here with the women and kids. You and I will take one of our UTVs in a horse trailer to the Forest Service parking area. A sheriff’s deputy is meeting us there. Then we’ll head up and see if you can pick up a trail from last night’s tracks.”
“That only works if this guy got onto the property the same way he did before.”
Jack poured himself another cup of coffee. “Our riders in the south pasture heard the four-wheeler last night. They formed a reception committee, but the poacher never showed himself. They figure he saw them and moved on.”
Jason found that interesting. “In that case, he probably did come in the same way. That indicates to me that he’s operating from a fixed position.”
Nate and Jack seemed to consider this.
Jack grinned. “I can’t tell you how grateful we are for your help.”
Jason drained his coffee. “From what I hear, you Wests are always there for the people of Scarlet Springs. I’m happy to help.”
They finished breakfast and were about to head out when Nate looked Jason over. “You’re going to need warmer gear.”
Five minutes later, Jason was wearing a spare pair of Nate’s long underwear, as well as a winter parka, a woolen hat, and warm gloves.
Nate nodded. “That’s better.”
Outside, the air was fresh and cold, the scent of snow mingling with pine, the first light of dawn spilling into the valley from the east. The ranch hands had already attached an extra-long horse trailer to Nate’s pickup. Nate opened the rear doors to show Jason the UTV strapped inside. Big enough to carry four people, it could definitely handle three adults plus gear.
