Wolves of East Anglia: Reluctantly His

by Marisa Chenery

  "I . . . I decided to lock up early," Nika stammered when he stood in front of her, looking at her as if he wanted to gobble her up.

  "Good. That way I get to have you all to myself."

  Garrick went to wrap his hand around her nape, but she quickly ducked out from under his arm and put the table between them. "I told you what happened earlier today was a mistake." As he stalked her around the table, Nika kept moving, keeping it between her and him.

  "It didn't feel like a mistake to me," he said. "If anything, it felt pretty damn right.

  And you felt it too. That kiss wasn't all one sided."

  She jumped out of reach when he made a grab for her again. "You caught me in a momentary lapse of weakness. It won't happen again."

  "I think I'll test that theory."

  Moving at a speed no one should be capable of, Garrick closed the distance separating them and dragged her into his arms. Nika couldn't hold back the shiver of awareness that shot through her. The length of her body was plastered to his. Her breasts were flattened against his hard chest. Her nipples grew taut, causing them to feel sensitive against the material of her bra. She sucked in a ragged breath when she realized the hard length of his cock was nestled against her stomach.

  With a gulp, she craned her neck to look him in the face. She had to make one last attempt to stop what was about to happen. Her will to resist was already starting to weaken. "Let me go, Garrick." Her voice didn't sound as convincing as she'd hoped.

  "Not until you prove you aren't as affected as I am."

  He kept one arm anchored around her waist and reached up with the other hand to cup the back of her head. His lips came down on hers, claiming them in a heated kiss.

  It was no gentle exploration. No, this was hungry and demanding, just like the man who held her.

  Nika put her hands on his chest to push Garrick away, but instead, they clutched at his T-shirt and pulled him closer. With each pull of his lips, his tongue sweeping the inside of her mouth to duel with hers, she found herself falling deeper into his kiss. She relaxed into him as her body went up in flames. She eagerly kissed him back while she rocked against his erection, her pussy clenched.

  With what sounded very much like an animalistic-type growl, Garrick pushed the chairs off the top of the table, sending them crashing to the floor. He lifted her and sat her on the sturdy oak top. The table was just the right height for him to step between her spread legs and press the large bulge in his jeans exactly where she ached the most.

  Garrick took hold of her hips and pulled her closer. Even with their clothes separating them, he felt so good. And when he ground his cock against her pussy, Nika moaned loudly into his mouth as her juices leaked into her panties. Lifting her hands to bury her fingers in his hair at the back of his head, she let the delicious sensations he created take her over.

  Still kissing her deeply, Garrick skimmed his hands to the bottom of her shirt and slowly pushed it up until his palms covered her breasts. Arching her back, Nika sucked on his tongue, needing him to touch more of her. All the reasons why she should be denying him flew out of her head.

  "More," she said in a voice gone husky with arousal.

  "I'll give you more. I know what you want."

  Continuing to rock his hips into her, Garrick brushed aside the bra cup covering her right breast, bent his head, and swirled his tongue around her taut nipple. He sucked it into his mouth, and Nika's grip on his hair tightened. As he suckled, she felt a corresponding pull in her pussy, causing more wetness to pool there. Her body climbed higher and higher as his hard cock ground against her core, and he moved to lavish the same attention on her other breast. She couldn't hold back the breathy moans she made.

  "That's it," Garrick said encouragingly. "Let go."

  Garrick sucked harder while he dropped his hands to her hips once again and rocked faster against her pussy. In the back of her head, Nika became aware of something sharp pricking through the material of her jeans, but the pleasure that quickly built inside her soon pushed that thought away.

  Unbelievably, Nika felt herself on the verge of an orgasm. With no skin-to-skin contact except where Garrick sucked at her breast, she fell over the edge. A keening cry escaped her lips while her empty pussy rhythmically clenched.

  Panting through little aftershocks, she let go of Garrick's hair. He released her nipple, but kept his head down and pressed to her chest. By slow degrees, his hands loosened their grip on her hips. He took a deep, shuddering breath before he lifted his head. His cock still lay thick and hard against her.

  Garrick cupped her face and gave her a gentle kiss. When he pulled away, he said softly, "Now tell me you don't want me."

  Nika closed her eyes. She couldn't exactly say no when he'd been able to bring her to climax just by dry humping her. She lifted her eyelids to find Garrick staring at her with that hungry look of his. No point in denying her attraction to him when to do so would be a bald-faced lie.

  She swallowed. "I'll admit that I want you, but I don't know if I'm ready to start another relationship."

  Garrick stiffened. "When did this other relationship of yours end?"

  "A few months ago. My ex and I bought the pub together, but he left it all to me when he took off with his new fling to London."

  "Was he from the States too?"

  "No, but I met him there. He was originally from Norwich," she said. "Look, what I'm trying to say is, David and I had been together for a year and half. His walking out on me, leaving me with a pub that is barely getting by and not enough capital for me to go home even if I wanted to . . . well, I've sort of sworn off men for a while."

  "Because you're afraid of getting hurt again." Garrick said it as a statement rather than a question.

  "Yes. I had started to think my ex was the one. It hurt when he left."

  "He left because he wasn't the one meant for you."

  She eyed him. "And I guess that means you think you're the one who is?"

  He ran the pad of his thumb along her bottom lip. "Of course I am. And I will never leave you."

  At Garrick's words, Nika snorted. "Yeah, right. You just met me yesterday and already you have me pegged as your one and only."

  His gaze locked with hers and held. "You are the one, Nika," he said in a serious voice. "I have proof to back it up, but you aren't ready to hear it yet." Garrick released her and took a step back. "I'm going to leave now, but I'll see you tomorrow."

  "I told you, the pub is closed for the next two days."

  "You live upstairs, right?" he asked as he slowly backed away.

  "Yes."

  "Then you'll be here."

  Once Garrick left and the pub's door closed behind him, Nika sat on the table, thinking over what had happened. She was so damn confused. She wanted Garrick—

  oh, how she wanted him—but could she afford to take the risk? That was the big question. Could she put her heart on the line once again and let another man into her life? And it wouldn't only be great sex with Garrick. Nika had a feeling he would want it all—the whole nine yards, ending with a committed relationship.

  She slipped off the table and went to lock the entrance door. She'd sleep on it and see how she felt in the morning. She didn't have to let Garrick in if she didn't want to.

  There was nothing stopping her from keeping the pub locked up tight.

  * * * * *

  The next morning, Garrick awoke a bit earlier than usual with the day looking to be a good one since he would be spending it with Nika. After last night, when she'd come in his arms, he was more than sure she was his mate. With the sound of her passionate cries echoing in his ears as she reached her climax, his claws had come out, and his eyes had gone wolf. He'd had to hide his face against her chest until he'd brought his excitement under control. If she had been spread out naked on that table, he would have had a much harder time of it.

  He showered, shaved, and then left the house without telling anyone where he was going. There really wasn'
t any point. Once they realized he was gone, they would know he was with Nika.

  He arrived at the pub, parked his car, and got out. Since the entrance to the pub would be locked, he walked around the building until he found the side entrance. He assumed this one led to the upstairs flat. The door at the back had to be the kitchen's entrance.

  Garrick rapped his knuckles loudly on the door and waited. And waited. He knocked again, but he didn't hear any movement from the other side. A twist of the doorknob showed it was locked. He headed around to the back door to try there, but met with the same result. Thinking maybe Nika had unlocked the main entrance for him after all, he walked back to the front of the pub. He pulled on the wooden door, but it was locked as well.

  He backed away from the door until he saw the upper story's windows. One was open a little to let in the early spring air. "Nika!" he shouted. She didn't come to the window. "Nika, come down." Still no response.

  Garrick wanted to growl with frustration. Obviously, leaving Nika alone for the rest of the night by herself had given her ample opportunity to change her mind about him all over again. Shit. He didn't want to have to convince her he was the one for her every time he saw her.

  "Let me in, Nika!" he shouted more loudly than he had before.

  This time, he heard her voice through the open window, but he couldn't see her.

  "Go away, Garrick."

  "I told you I was coming back today. I thought we had things worked out last night."

  "No, you had everything worked out last night. I never agreed to anything."

  He growled, low and deep. Instead of moving forward, he'd lost ground with Nika over the course of the night. He wasn't going to let that happen.

  "Either you let me in, sweetheart, or I'm going to make a huge nuisance of myself until you do."

  Nika suddenly appeared in the window. "Why do you have to make things so difficult? And don't call me that."

  "I could be asking you the same thing. Come on. Let me in. You know you want to."

  Garrick stood his ground while she glared down at him through the window. To show her he was not just going to walk away because she wanted him to, he crossed his arms over his chest and calmly stared back up at her.

  She threw her hands in the air. "Fine, you win. Come around to the side, and I'll let you in. I don't need you making a scene in front of my pub."

  Chapter Six

  Garrick smiled in triumph as he walked back to the side entrance. His mate could balk and do her best to push him away, but she would soon learn they were meant to be together.

  Nika stood at the open door waiting. Before he stepped in, she put a hand on his chest to keep him out. "A few ground rules first. No touching or kissing."

  He looked pointedly down where her hand rested on his chest. "It would seem you're already breaking one of your rules."

  She quickly yanked her hand back. "As I said, no touching or kissing. And none of this 'we're meant to be together forever' crap, either."

  Garrick sighed dramatically. "Well, there go all my plans, right out the window.

  Are you sure about the no touching or kissing?"

  "Doubly sure. Either you agree to my rules or I'm not going to let you upstairs."

  "All right. I'll follow your rules." He would agree to anything at this point.

  Nika took a step back, giving him enough room to walk into the small entranceway hall. A flight of stairs at the end of it led to the flat. She shut the door behind him before brushing past him and going up the steps. He followed behind her, enjoying the view of her backside.

  When they reached the flat, Nika motioned for him to go into the living room.

  Garrick took a seat on the couch and looked around the room. It was sparsely decorated with an armchair, coffee table, and the couch he sat on, all of which had all seen better days. A tele sat on another smaller table across from the couch. The light blue paint on the walls was a bit faded, and the dark blue carpet on the floors showed signs of wear and tear. The improvements done on the pub downstairs had not extended to the flat above.

  Slipping onto the armchair kitty-corner from the couch, Nika didn't say anything when she stared in his direction. The annoyance she had to be feeling about having him in her home showed on her face. Her scowl was hardly welcoming.

  "You don't have to sit way over there," he said and patted the couch cushion next to him. "There is plenty of room here."

  "I think I'll stay where I am. It's safer this way."

  "What's the matter, Nika? Don't you trust me not to break your rules?"

  "Of course I don't trust you," she said with a sneer. "So far, you haven't really listened to me when I've said to leave me alone."

  "Only because I know deep down inside that isn't what you want."

  She rolled her eyes. "So now you're a mind reader?"

  "No." Garrick decided it was time for them to move off this particular subject.

  "Are you going to offer me something to drink? My throat is kind of dry from having to yell at you to let me in."

  "Fine." Nika stood. "All I have up here is bottled water in the fridge. Is that okay?"

  "Water is all right with me."

  He watched her walk out of the living room and disappear down the small hallway off to his right. The sound of a fridge door being opened and then shut reached his ears. Nika returned a few seconds later.

  When she moved closer to the couch to hand the bottle of water to him, he stuck out his leg and purposely tripped her. As she landed on him, Garrick fell back on the couch, twisting so Nika ended up sprawled along his body. Her breath left her lungs in a whoosh, and her lips hovered over his. She stiffened, but didn't make any move to get off.

  Trying to act the part of the innocent, he said, "Don't look at me. You're the one who tripped. I just let you use my body for a softer landing."

  Her gaze lingered on his lips. "I wouldn't exactly call your body soft."

  "You've got that right," he said huskily and lifted his hips into her, letting her feel his hard-on. She licked her lips and Garrick forced himself to remain still.

  "I thought I told you no touching," Nika said.

  "Well, from where I'm lying, I would say you're the one doing the touching since you're on top of me." He held up his hands. "See. I'm keeping my hands to myself."

  Nika's gaze drifted to his hands, then zeroed back in on his mouth. She took her bottom lip between her teeth. Intense arousal shot through him, making his cock even harder. It jerked inside his jeans as he pictured what it would feel like to have Nika's mouth sucking him deep.

  With a quiet moan, she whispered, "Aw, fuck it."

  Her lips came down on his. Garrick growled low, wrapped his arms around her, and kissed her back. He sucked Nika's tongue into his mouth and let her twine hers with his. While they kissed, he put his hands on her arse, shifting her so the apex of her thighs landed on his erection. She ground down on him as he lifted his hips into hers.

  She'd come like this the night before, but this time, he didn't want any of her clothes between them. The next time he made her come, he wanted his mouth on her pussy.

  With the taste of Nika on his tongue and the scent of her arousal perfuming the air he breathed, Garrick fought to keep his wolf side under control. A difficult undertaking, especially with her on top him, riding him through his jeans. His cock was so hard he was about ready to explode. Every time he touched Nika, his need to have her became stronger. She made him ache until all he thought about was burying himself in her warm body. Over and over again.

  Garrick pushed his hands under the back of Nika's shirt, caressing her silky skin.

  When he reached the fastener of her bra, he released the hooks. She deepened their kiss as she shifted a little to the side and palmed his cock. The feel of her fingers running along his length had his shaft straining against the zipper of his jeans.

  Holding Nika to him, Garrick sat up and slowly lifted her shirt up her body. He pulled back when it reach
ed her unfastened bra to give her a chance to refuse if this wasn't what she wanted. In answer to his questioning stare, she took hold of her shirt and pulled it off over her head. Keeping her gaze on him, she let her loosened bra straps fall down her arms, then dropped it to the floor with her shirt.

  His gaze fell to her breasts. They were definitely more than a handful, topped with dusky rose nipples. They were perfect, and he couldn't wait to have his mouth on them again.

  "So beautiful," he breathed against her skin.

  He nuzzled a breast before taking her taut nipple into his mouth. Garrick covered the other breast, tugging at that nipple, while he sucked on the other. Holding her this way felt like heaven.

  Nika buried her fingers in his hair and held him to her while she rocked against his cock. He released her nipple and moved to take the other into his mouth. With caressing strokes, he glided his fingers down across her ribs and belly to rest on the top of her jeans. He undid the button and pulled down the zipper. By slow degrees, he pushed the waistband down her hips.

  Garrick pulled away, lifted her off his lap, and made her stand before him. "I need to taste you, Nika. Will you let me?" To show her exactly what he wanted, he tugged her jeans farther down her legs.

  Eyes heavy with desire, Nika nodded. "I want you to. I ache."

  A couple of quick tugs, and her jeans pooled around her ankles. She stepped out of them, leaving her only in her panties. Garrick moved to stand beside her and picked her up. He carried her the short distance to the armchair and placed her on it. He went down on his knees in front of her and placed feather-light kisses across her stomach, swirling his tongue in her bellybutton when he reached it. While he kissed his way lower, he hooked his fingers into the waistband of her panties. He pulled them down her long, slim legs and off.

  Skimming his hands up the inside of her legs, Garrick spread them apart. He lifted each one to rest on the low armrests. In this position, Nika was totally open to him. Looking at her pussy, he saw she was already wet. Her folds glistened with her juices.