Moving to her side, he quickly lifted her from the couch, then turned her over, putting her down on all fours. Emily sucked in a breath and looked over her shoulder just in time to watch him mount her.
But despite the erotic sight, she nearly cried out for him to wait. For as ho-hum as she'd found missionary sex with her ex, this position was boring—she'd ended up rocking on the bed just waiting for him to finish.
Yet Emily stopped herself at the last minute. So far, things with Caleb had been absolutely amazing, and she was eager to learn just how much better this position would be, too.
As it turned out, he wasn't reluctant to show her, immediately sinking his thick girth back inside her body. The first time, Emily almost felt like a virgin again—Caleb's size made for a tightly snug fit. But she'd quickly adjusted thanks to his slow movements, and now? She was so wet it didn't matter, parting her legs wider for more just as her hips started bouncing against his thick thighs.
“Can't believe how good you feel, baby!” Caleb groaned low.
Me? He was the one showing her how enjoyable sex could actually be, and she could barely keep up.
As he moved, he leaned forward on one hand, the other wandering over her body, groping her breasts, pinching her nipples, then sneaking down between her legs to strum her budded clit. It almost seemed strange to be touched without giving any direction, and Emily couldn't stand it, rocking back against him harder to take him as deep as possible.
And that sense of connection grew with each passing moment.
Their movements were frenzied, but precise, their bodies working together in a pleasured exchange. It was almost like Caleb knew what she was thinking, moving with her as if they were a single being.
Sadly, she couldn't tell him he was the most skilled lover she ever had considering her limited track record. But she could whimper, “I never thought it could feel this way … !”
He growled, obviously enjoying her confession, just as she enjoyed the sound of his pleasured groan against her ear.
“Always want you to feel this way, sweetheart … Is it driving you crazy?”
“Yes! I-I'm … oh my god,” she rasped, “I'm about to come again!”
She could barely believe it, but as he speared deep between her legs, her muscles clenched hard, her hips lifting higher for more, and Caleb didn't disappoint. She could hear his flesh slapping against hers, loud and hard. The sound mingled with her cries, hips bucking as she exploded.
The resulting waves of pleasure were so intense she thrashed against him uncontrollably. Caleb had to clutch her nape, pinning her down against the couch while pounding her from behind until she literally screamed his name.
Finally, he slammed home with a masculine grunt, coming inside her, that flood of warmth furthering her orgasm until she thought she'd pass out.
Unable to take anymore, she squirmed and clawed the cushions, begging him to stop until he rasped lovingly against her ear, “I've got you, baby. That's it.”
With the intense pleasure finally fading into euphoria, she relaxed, heaving her breaths as she collapsed against the couch, unable to move. Caleb shifted beside her, gathering her in his arms to tuck against his chest with the sweetest praise for what they'd just shared—and she could perceive their connection better than ever.
Yet, as she drifted into a blissful daze, she could barely open her eyes. The need to sleep was setting in fast, and the last thought she had before passing out was to wonder if it would always be this way … .
• • •
An hour after the sun peeked over the horizon, Emily received the sweetest wake up call of her lover's lips caressing her neck, his arms winding around her.
A shiver moved through her, rousing her from sleep, and she smiled languidly with memories of the previous night coming to mind.
“Good morning,” she whispered.
Caleb echoed the sentiment, his voice gentle—and extremely satisfied. “Sleep well?”
“Yeah, I don't even remember falling asleep.”
He kissed her neck as if glad to hear it, then admitted, “I dreamed about what we did last night.”
Emily snickered, rolling onto her back so she could look up at him, and the sight of his contented smile warmed her heart.
Stroking the backs of her fingers along his jaw, she asked, “Was it as good?”
His smile turned into a grin. “Not even close. But I couldn't have a dream that would be as good.”
“No?”
Caleb shook his head, his copper eyes warming to golden when he added, “What we did? It's … I've never felt anything like this, Emi. Not with anyone.”
She held his gaze, easily able to see how serious he was, and couldn't deny the truth behind his declaration. Simply waking up with him, and laying in his embrace provided a level of emotional satisfaction she'd never experienced, and didn't think existed before now.
Yet she wondered if they were actually on the same page about it, asking, “How do you feel?”
His response was simple, but carried a weight that was both comforting, and daunting.
“Like we're connected.”
She bit her lip. He'd just described exactly how she'd felt the previous evening. It wasn't just a matter of being close in a physical sense, but also tied emotionally.
Still, she wondered; was her definition of connection the same as his?
Caleb was a lupine with strong instincts, and he could've meant something entirely different. Perhaps he was talking about his bonding, or some other gut feeling she didn't have, but asking him to explain it further wouldn't really help her grasp his meaning.
So she said nothing in response, and instead, leaned up to kiss him affectionately.
The way he groaned against her mouth provided a sense of pleasure that was only interrupted by the sound of her growling stomach.
Both of them snickered at the humorous noise, prompting Caleb to ask, “Got a wolf in your belly?”
“I guess so,” she chuckled. “I haven't eaten since the arcade.”
“Want me to get us something? I make a mean bowl of cereal,” he boasted playfully.
Emily laughed and nodded. “Sounds like the breakfast of champions.”
Grinning, he gave her a quick kiss, then got up.
She admired the view of his broad back and hard ass as he moved, thinking over their first night together, and what he'd just admitted. It was such a promising start, one she hoped was a sign of good things to come for them both.
Yet she worried about how they might get there—and what she'd be in the end.
Emily cared about Caleb, deeply. Last night, he'd called himself her wolf, and the sound of it was inexplicably appealing. He was a good man who cared about her needs, and it'd be foolish to let him get away. Yet she couldn't shake the feeling that, as long as she was human, she'd never fully understand the way he worked.
This made the situation unexpectedly complex, and all because of the prospect of being turned into a lupine.
It wasn't required to continue their relationship, but she had to wonder what they'd miss by skipping that step. Aside from comprehending things like his desire to catch her scent, they'd never have children, or even run together as wolves—and it wasn't hard to envision Caleb longing for such a thing.
But on the flip side, there were benefits to being turned as well, like gaining physical strength—and to a runt like Emily, who'd constantly strove to be more self-reliant, that aspect was particularly appealing.
Still, it was much too soon to seriously consider such a major change … wasn't it? They'd been together for all of a day and a half, and she didn't want to ruin a good thing by jumping in without thinking. I care about him way too much to mess this up.
Such was the reason for her hesitance over admitting she'd felt a connection to him in return. Would Caleb read too far into it? Mistake her meaning and jump in without thought?
Maybe he wouldn't, but she saw no reason to mention it until they'd be
en together for longer, giving her time to see how things progressed. She'd simply have to pace herself in the meantime, and make sure they weren't throwing caution to the wind.
Still, after their night together, and the way he returned with two bowls of cereal and an offer of sugar in the form of a kiss, she had no idea if that was even possible.
I'm definitely in over my head … .
Chapter 30
One Week Later
“You know the carnival starts today, Caleb.”
“Yeah, so?”
“So, are you planning on taking a special you-know-who?”
Caleb placed a few steaks into the shopping cart, smiling at Joslyn's comment. Their Wednesday afternoon supermarket trip was meant to gather grilling supplies for a weekend cookout, but it seemed his sister-in-law was looking for more than just groceries.
So he offered a vague reply. “Oh yeah, I'm definitely taking someone very special.”
“Uh huh,” she retorted knowingly. “And?”
“And,” he started, “Conner's gonna be thrilled after all his whining about how you never take him anywhere exciting.”
With an amused gasp, Joslyn shoved him and laughed. “Stop being stupid! You know who I mean.”
Grinning, Caleb stopped at a stand of condiments and conceded, “Yeah, I'm taking Emily, but hasn't she already told you about it?”
“Nah. You've kept her away from me this past week,” she remarked, grinning. “So I'm guessing things are good if you're spending so much time together.”
At that, Caleb gave his sister-in-law a confused look. He and Emily had seen one another every day since they'd started dating, and things between them were going well. Yet a few unspoken issues had cropped up, and he hadn't quite occupied enough of her time to keep her away from Joslyn entirely.
In fact, he honestly didn't think they were spending enough time together.
“You haven't seen her at all?”
“Only twice, but not for long enough to chat in depth. Why?”
“I don't know, it just seems weird. As much as I wanna be with her, work gets in the way, and uh … she got the monthly thing if you know what I mean,” he whispered to prevent a passing couple from overhearing. “So we haven't hung out as much as I'd like.”
“Oh,” Joslyn drew out. “Guess she's just been tired with everything going on, then.”
“Maybe,” Caleb returned uncertainly. Though work sometimes interfered, and she had the monthly curse to contend with, it sometimes felt as if she were pushing him away. So hearing Joslyn say that even she hadn't seen her friend much over the past week had him doubting it was as simple as fatigue.
“What's wrong?”
Dropping a bottle of marinara into their cart, Caleb grumbled, “Nothing. Emily's just been distant I guess, and hearing you say she hasn't been around makes me worry.”
“Distant? How so?”
As they turned down an aisle filled with salad dressings, Caleb shrugged. “It's just little things. Like … okay, she keeps insisting on sleeping at her place without letting me stay over, even when I remind her of what Evan said.” Grumbling, he added, “We actually got into an argument about that one last night.”
Joslyn looked surprised. “Seriously?”
He nodded. “It wasn't a huge fight, just a lot of bickering. She's also tried talking me out of stuff like going to the store when she needed uh … personal supplies. So I figured she might just be moody or something.”
“That could be a part of it,” Joslyn agreed, moving on after acquiring some dressing from the shelf. “But how are things otherwise?”
Caleb groaned, answering with no lack of sincerity, “Really damned good. It's just frustrating thinking there's trouble she hasn't told me about.”
At his description, Joslyn lapsed into thoughtful silence, obviously trying to come up with some reason why Emily would behave in such a way. Caleb found himself curious to hear her thoughts as well, but no matter what his sister-in-law suggested, he was planning to ask Emily about it before going to the carnival that afternoon.
Besides, she hadn't been pushing him away entirely. Just a few days ago, she'd joined Caleb for a run through the woods as a wolf, and brought her camera along to get some shots. Afterwards, the couple settled in the shade of a large oak, relaxing together without saying a single word, and Emily quickly fell asleep against him.
So Caleb carried her back home, and she gifted him with a heartwarming smile when she woke and realized what he'd done.
It was during such moments he could literally feel his bond with her getting stronger, to the point that if Emily was a lupine, his instincts probably would've alerted them both that they were mates.
For that matter, they might've had the urge to mark.
But, since she was human, he wasn't entirely sure. Several of his packmates had mentioned gaining an intuitive sense that a human lover was a mate before turning them, yet he'd never impulsively referred to Emily as my mate, or even thought of her that way. Caleb only knew two things for certain; first, it felt as if she was the one he'd been waiting his entire life to find, and second?
He was falling in love.
Some nights, all he could think about was going over to the duplex just to sleep on the couch where he'd be closer to her. Such urges made her distance that much harder to handle, so Caleb was all ears when Joslyn asked a question.
“Has she said anything? Made any complaints?”
“Not really,” he started, but it seemed he'd spoken too soon. While trying to think of something that could qualify as strange, he recalled a specific comment she'd made at The Bastion Compound, amending, “Oh wait, she did tell me she didn't wanna be reliant on anyone, but she never said why.”
Somehow, that information had his sister-in-law's face lighting with recognition. “Okay, that makes a lot of sense.”
Impatiently, Caleb insisted, “What does?”
Nodding, Joslyn stopped pushing the cart and explained, “Emily's always felt like she's relied on others too much. Evan bullied her, and sometimes kids at school picked on her because she was too small to fight back. So I always tried to protect her, and her parents did, too. I mean her mom moved out when she was seven just to keep her and Evan apart, and I know that hurt because she felt like she couldn't take care of herself well enough to keep her family together.”
Hearing this, Caleb sighed, summarizing, “Then she doesn't want me staying over and protecting her, or taking care of a lot of little things, because she thinks it's a burden.”
“Sounds like it,” Joslyn agreed. “I mean she probably does want your support, just not to the point of feeling like a liability.”
Caleb nodded understandingly, and the more he thought about it, the more sense it made. Nearly everything he'd questioned had to do with Emily refusing some offer of assistance, and now that he understood her need for self reliance, he was more eager to finish their shopping trip and drive over to the duplex to talk with her.
As if knowing what he was thinking, Joslyn checked their shopping list and mentioned, “Okay, all we need is charcoal for the grill, so let's grab it and get outta here. I'm ready to go see my niece.”
Caleb grinned at her enthusiasm—she and Conner were babysitting Scarlet for a few hours that afternoon while Cade and Ashley went out. So he didn't hesitate, moving to the proper aisle while using the time to think of what he might say to Emily later.
Would she get upset if he insisted she wasn't a liability? Or would it be better just to show her through his actions? Without knowing how sensitive the topic was, he couldn't say for sure, and nearly asked Joslyn for advice by the time they were heading to the checkout line.
But she beat him to the punch in mentioning, “By the way, I've got something important I need to tell you and Emily, but not without Conner around. So look for us at the carnival tonight, okay?”
She had a peculiar smile on her face as she spoke, and Caleb quirked a brow. “Good news?”
&nb
sp; “Yep, and so you don't start guessing what it is, let me ask something unrelated. When is Travis supposed to call you with an update?”
He smirked at her evasion, deciding not to hound her about the news, and answered on a soft tone of voice, “Any time now. He's waiting until everyone's been hypnotized before giving out information.”
Nodding, Joslyn suggested, “So the bottom line is that we're still in danger.”
“Pretty much,” he muttered, realizing it was probably another reason his relationship with Emily seemed strained—respecting her wishes for space wasn't easy when he was so concerned for her safety.
Still, Hunter's Moon and The Bastion had made progress in their investigation, all thanks to the names Emily provided them with.
The first person they'd looked into was Carson Elliot, who was definitely involved. Additionally, his apprehension led The Bastion to two other culprits, both partially informed humans. Yet neither possessed the same scent found on the shirt Travis gave Caleb, proving there were more people to drag in.
But Margaret Hammond wasn't one of them. Two months after Cooper's death, human police reports stated she was seen frequenting a local bar in Texas, depressed by the loss of her boyfriend, and drove home one night under the influence.
As a result, she lost her life in a car accident that sent her vehicle off a bridge and into a river.
This left Sam Gibbons, who'd been living in Alaska for the past two years, putting him a long ways out of reach of the more recent murders—though not all of them. So Hunter's Moon sent a few lupines to investigate, and learned that not only was he completely uninformed about the supernatural, but his scent didn't match the one on the clothing either.
Still, they were doing a more thorough background check, and in the meantime, The Bastion had employed a witch to hypnotize the human's in their custody. Travis promised to call and report the outcome of that endeavor, so Caleb was keeping his phone handy.
Hunter's Moon Page 25
