Raising the Phoenix

by Emma Nichols

  He returned to my side and placed his hand on my lower back. I never realized how much I liked that simple gesture until now. Of course, I’d never craved a person like this before, either. Together, we wandered down the hall, and I realized this had to be his bedroom.

  “Quinn, I thought I told you…” My voice trailed off even as my strength to deny him evaporated.

  “You’re saving yourself, Savvy. I know. Trust me.” He set the plate on the nightstand and then lifted me up onto the bed.

  I sat there with my legs folded under me, biting my lower lip. When I was around him, I no longer felt in control. His presence made me weak and I hated it, hated him for it. Looking away, my face grew hot with shame.

  “Bite this instead,” he urged as he pressed a strawberry to my lips.

  Opening wide, I let him push the fruit into my mouth, then I bit down and groaned as the sweet juices dribbled into my mouth and down my chin. While I chewed, I started to reach up and wipe it, but Quinn captured my hand and leaned in to lick it. The way his tongue felt against my skin had me on fire. Was this how the phoenix felt before being reborn? On top of that, my wolf was going positively nuts. I whimpered. “I can’t eat.”

  He gave me a knowing look. “I can fix it. Let me help, Savvy. Let me take care of you.”

  I closed my eyes. His offer was so appealing, whatever it entailed. Even though warning bells rang in my mind, my wolf and my body wanted to comply. Hesitantly, I nodded. “Help me,” I whispered. My words sounded foreign to me.

  Instantly, Quinn joined me on the bed. He lifted me up like I weighed nothing and moved me so my head and upper back rested on his stack of pillows. As he straddled me, I quickly glanced down and realized he wasn’t wearing anything under the robe. I groaned and looked away.

  “What was that for?” He grinned and I guessed he knew I looked, knew I’d seen his pulsing erection.

  “Just wondering how many women you’ve seduced in this bed before me,” I lied. “You know, since you’re so smooth.”

  Quinn took my face in his hands and looked me straight in the eyes. “None,” he replied.

  My jaw dropped, but I quickly recovered. “None ever?”

  He rolled his eyes. “No, but none in this house. None in this bed. I wanted some things to be special and sacred too.” He sighed. “Now stop talking, Savvy. You said you’d let me take care of you.”

  My head tilted. “I did, but I have no idea what this means.”

  “Be quiet and you’ll find out.” Then he slid a hand under my shirt and cupped my breast.

  I couldn’t have said another word if I wanted. All I could do was feel in the moment. Somehow, this was right. Turning my head into the pillow, I moaned as he fondled my other breast as well.

  “Don’t hide from me, Savvy.” Quinn quickly removed my shirt and bra without any resistance on my part. When he finished and I lay back on the pillows once more, I read the approval and desire on his face. “This is why you’re here,” he murmured before kissing down the length of my body.

  The way his fingers wrapped around my hips, the way he stirred the need in me as his head rested momentarily on my lower abdomen had me nearly panting. I shook my head. “No, I came to talk.” I struggled to argue.

  Looking up at my face, Quinn’s heated gaze silenced me. “No, you came for answers. Pay attention. This is everything you need to know.”

  As he worked to unbutton my shorts and slide them down my hips, I frowned. “You’re not saying anything.”

  “Are you sure? I think my actions are speaking volumes.” His brow arched and he turned his attention to my panties. I thought he was going to remove them right away, like he had the rest of my clothing. Instead, he spread my legs and lay in between them.

  “You’re so beautiful, Savvy.” His words tickled my inner thigh as he kissed his way to my boy shorts. When he reached the cotton, Quinn slid his fingers under the fabric on both sides and traced his way up and down my labia. They felt swollen and sensitive. Then he slid a finger inside me. “You’re so wet,” he moaned.

  “I blame you.” I choked out the words.

  “I’ll gladly take responsibility.” He chuckled as he slid the remaining article of clothing from my hips and down my thighs, carefully removing one leg and then the other.

  I’d never let anyone touch me like this, never let anyone see me naked, never allowed anyone to get close to me. Why Quinn? Why now? My mind raced. “You said you’d help me,” I whimpered.

  He spread my thighs wide and slowly ran his tongue up the length of my slit. “Sweet Savvy, can’t you see that I am?” He laid one hand on my lower abdomen and used the other to explore. Quinn carefully slid one and then two fingers inside me and stroked me while he licked and sucked on my clit. This was a man who knew what he was doing. I loved and hated it all at the same time.

  Though my eyes had been mostly closed while Quinn had his way with me, I finally peeked and realized he was staring at me, studying me. “Let me know what you like. I only want to please you.”

  Inside, there was an unfamiliar pressure building. Something was missing. I knew what it was. “I want you in me,” I blurted out and then bit my lower lip shyly while waiting for his response. He froze while he considered my request. “Please.”

  With a frown, Quinn shook his head. “As much as I long to be in you, I can’t. Not yet.” Then he returned to his task. This time, he wouldn’t even glance at my face.

  For a second, I wondered what I’d done to upset him, but then as he continued to lavish attention on my body, I couldn’t think at all. I covered my mouth with the back of my hand. My breath came in tiny gasps. I closed my eyes to focus only on feeling. I’d hoped this would satisfy my wolf, but she was as frantic as before, eager to claim her mate. I braced for it. I could feel something building inside, like water pounding against a dam. Then it ruptured. My insides rolled like waves against the shore, and I became a quivering, whimpering mess while my wolf howled for her mate. Only when my orgasm ebbed could I finally fill my lungs, and then Quinn climbed up the bed and drew me into his arms.

  I rolled into him, regretting what little distance existed between us. His fiery hot erection pulsed against my skin. “Your turn.” I smiled shyly at him. Then I reached down and held his cock in my hand, marveling since I couldn’t even close my hand around the girth of it. “Let me help you.”

  Quinn grabbed my wrist and brought it up to his chest. “Not yet.” He blew out a breath.

  I could feel his heart pounding against his chest. “Why not?” I frowned, completely disappointed.

  “Do you have all the answers you came for?” He stared down at me.

  I recognized the hope in his eyes, but whatever message he intended to convey was completely lost on me. Biting on the inside of my lower lip, I shook my head sadly. “No.”

  His eyes darkened like a spring storm. “Then I guess we really do need to talk.”

  I nodded. “Can I pee first?”

  Silently, Quinn stood and offered me a hand. My skin tingled at his touch. There was something so familiar and comforting when our fingers touched. I gazed up at him, searching his eyes for answers. What I read in response was a plea for understanding. I frowned as I stood on the plush carpeting. Quinn placed his robe on my shoulders. I slid my arms into the sleeves and then cinched it around my waist before darting into the bathroom.

  After I turned on the light, I closed the door behind me. Then I rushed to the toilet. I peed fast, a product of being raised in a five-person, two-bathroom household. Once I wiped and flushed, I moved to the sink and turned on the faucet. I mindlessly reached for the soap, lathered, and rinsed. I towel dried my hands, while staring at my reflection. Shouldn’t I look different now? Sure, it was only an orgasm, not losing my virginity, but I felt different and thought it might translate to my appearance. Turning a little too quickly, I knocked over an aerosol can on the vanity. At first, I righted the can and didn’t think about it. After all, the design was famil
iar to me, created by my aunt.

  Then I froze. My heart raced as I picked it up. This was Aunt Jo’s spray. I rubbed my forehead with my free hand. Why would he have this?

  I leaned hard against the wall. In my mind, everything began to fall into place—the way he didn’t smell like a man or a shifter, the way my wolf wanted him, the way I needed to be near him. Quinn really was my mate. My lips twitched. I wanted to smile. He had been trying to tell me tonight and I hadn’t listened to my wolf. There had to be more to it. Obviously, I was still missing some key part. With a hopeful heart, I opened the bathroom door and prepared to walk out with the spray in hand. Quinn had promised me answers. I was ready to hear them.

  I strode toward the bed with a goofy smile on my face. Then I realized, he wasn’t on the bed. In his place sat Howl. I felt like an idiot. Without thinking, I hurled the spray at him. “You…you asshole! I don’t know whether to kiss you or kill you!”

  He tilted his head and whined while wagging his tail.

  “Very cute. Face me like a man.” I crossed my arms over my chest and tapped my foot. “I’m waiting.”

  He whimpered and lay down on his paws before shifting into the naked man I’d left minutes before. “Better?” Quinn bit his cheek and waited.

  Without saying a word, I let the robe fall to the floor and then I strode over to the bed and hopped on the mattress. I crawled over to him and planted a long, lingering kiss on his lips. He rolled onto his back. Naturally, I read this as an invitation. So, I straddled him and lowered myself onto his body.

  Quinn wrapped his arms around me. “No more secrets, Savvy. I promise. From now on, I’ll be an open book.”

  I squeezed him tight. “Great.” Then I sat up and rested on his pelvis while his erection slapped me in the ass. “Ready to make this official?” I waggled my brows at him.

  With a half-smile, he shook his head. “We can’t, unless I know we’re forever.”

  “My wolf wants to claim her mate,” I argued.

  “I know. Mine wants you too.” He sighed.

  I shrugged. This seemed simple to me. “Perfect! Come home with me.”

  “I wish it were that easy, Savvy. I really do.” He groaned.

  I flopped over onto the bed and yanked up the covers. Suddenly, I felt exposed. I sighed. “Explain it to me.”

  Lying on his side, Quinn wrapped an arm around me and held me close. “You’re so smart, you must’ve figured it out. I’m a rogue.”

  * * *

  Read the rest of Savvy’s story in:

  Cursing the Moon, The Howl Series: 2

  Healing the Heart: The Howl Series: 3

  About Emma Nichols

  What made her decide to be a romance author?

  Simple.

  How else was she going to parlay her two favorite past times into a career?

  Emma is single and loving it. Like her first character, Alysin, Sin for short, she doesn't believe in settling or in settling down. She loves to indulge in her passions whenever the mood strikes and enjoys keeping all of life's cliché moments spicy.

  Known for her sense of humor, Emma surrounds herself with friends whose antics often become the source of book fodder. Her ideal situation would be to explore the Caribbean while writing. She pursues that dream daily.

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  books by emma nichols:

  Series:

  Sin at Sea (The Sinful Series, 1)

  Vixen in Vegas (The Sinful Series, 2)

  Heaven in Hedonism (The Sinful Series, 3)

  The Sinful Series Boxed Set

  Hiding Out (The Davenport Agency, 1)

  Finally Found (The Davenport Agency, 2)

  The Davenport Agency Boxed Set

  Under Umbrellas (New Hope, 1)

  Tempest Torn (New Hope, 2)

  Stormy Surrender (New Hope 3)

  New Hope Boxed Set

  First A Dream (Dreams Come True, 1)

  Second Chances (Dreams Come True, 2)

  Three Wishes (Dreams Come True, 3)

  Dreams Come True Boxed Set

  Untitled

  Coming 7/25/2017:

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  Raising the Phoenix (The Howl Series, 1)

  Cursing the Moon (The Howl Series, 2)

  Healing the Heart (The Howl Series, 3)

  The Howl Series Boxed Set

  Untitled

  Coming August 2017:

  * * *

  The Bet (The Players Series, 1)

  The Mark (The Players Series, 2)

  The Gamble (The Players Series, 3)

  The Players Series Boxed Set

  * * *

  Coming October 2017:

  Melt Me (The Draco Family Duet, 1)

  TBD (The Draco Family Duet, 2)

  Untitled

  Coming Winter 2017:

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  Blood Moon (The Druids, 1)

  Cold Moon (The Druids, 2)

  Blue Moon (The Druids, 3)

  The Druids Boxed Set

  * * *

  Standalones:

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  A Modern Proposal

  The Wait

  The Truth About Love

  Terms of Service

  The Souvenir

  Untitled

  Coming November 2017:

  Doggies & Destiny