by Ciana Stone
He moved his hand up to cup her face. “And I’ve never loved anyone else.”
All the desire and longing she had suppressed for so long rose to the surface. She slid her fingertips over his broad shoulders and down his strong chest.
Beau pressed her more firmly against his groin. She felt his need and it fueled her desire higher. Abruptly he ended the kiss and eased her back on the counter. She watched his face as he unfastened the buttons on her shirt and parted it.
His head lowered and a moment later, she felt a slow lick across the top of one breast. “Beautiful,” he mouthed against her skin as he worked the lace cups of her bra beneath her breasts to free them.
“Hmm.” She could barely breathe. It’d been months since she’d had sex and the last sex she had was not good, so if she didn’t count that, it’d been… hell, forget it. Time for that little voice in her head to shut up and let her enjoy the moment.
Beau moved his lips from her breast and claimed hers in a kiss that had her fingers tightening in his thick hair as her lips began a plunder of her own. God, he tasted good. Beer and steak and something that was all male and triggered her hormones into a frenzied dance. She couldn’t remember being this turned on since…well, probably the last time Beau kissed her.
Kissing and fondling, they divested one another of clothing. He took her hand and tugged her toward the sofa, but she resisted and pulled him to her for another kiss.
“Here,” she murmured against his lips and tried to lay back on the counter
“Nuh-uh,” he argued. “Couch. I’ve been fantasizing about this since I was a teenager. Come on, Grace. Get your sweet ass over to that sofa.”
Something about the way he said it, a hint of command in his voice had a thrill running through her. “Or what?” She teased and ran her hand down his body to his erection.
The smile he gave her was the most deliciously wicked thing she’d ever seen. He wrapped both arms around her, cupping her ass to pull her against him. “I guess I’ll just have to turn you over my knee and give you a good spanking.”
She nearly came right then and there, but the game was way too much fun to lose it this early. “Really? And I suppose you think I’m just going to let you?”
She accompanied the tease by taking him in her hand and rubbing the head of his erection against her sex.
He dug his fingers into her ass and pulled her even tighter against him. “Oh yeah, baby. That I do,” he breathed. “I think you’re not going to just let me, but before I’m done, you’re going to beg me.”
“Hmm, promises, promises,” she countered a second before his lips claimed hers. He backed her to the opposite wall and knelt in front of her. “Spread your legs.”
As soon as she did, she felt his tongue lapping the length of her sex. “Just like I remembered. Sweet as honey. Turn around, baby, so I can get to you better.”
She turned and bent at the waist so that her sex was at his eye level. He spread her legs wider and started licking her.
She was hugging the wall inside a minute. Every few seconds his tongue would move from her vagina to her clit, making her moan and press back against him. She could feel the vibration begin in her belly, knowing that she was just moments away from orgasm.
“Oh, God, yes!” she cried, and then groaned in protest when he moved away.
“It’s so rude to leave a girl stranded like that,” she complained and turned around to see him walking over to the work counter.
“Is this coconut oil?” he asked as he lifted a large bottle.
“It is, why?”
Beau smiled as he picked up the bottle and returned to where she waited. He poured a liberal amount of oil into one hand. “Stand with your back against the wall.”
She wasn’t sure what he had in mind, but obeyed anyway. She was literally quivering with arousal, her nipples puckered and hard and her sex wet.
He started on her shoulders, working his slick hands slowly down her arms, then up again. When he reached her breasts and palmed her nipples in slow circles, she moaned.
The moan was muffled by his mouth in a plundering kiss that was all tongue and teeth. She let him enjoy his invasion for a while, then took control, tangling both hands in his hair to feed off him.
The slow burn that had started in her nipples had already escalated into a raging fire that was spreading out from those sensitive buds, making her arch against him. His erection pressed against her belly, throbbing and hard.
She reached down to take him in one hand. “Hmm.” She bit at his lip when he moved away from the kiss. He took hold of her wrists to force her hands from him.
“I didn’t say you could touch me,” he said with a smile. “Bad, very bad. I guess I’m going to have to administer that spanking sooner than I realized.”
At first, she thought he was just teasing, but when he turned her to face the wall and said, “Bend over, baby,” she realized it was no tease.
The sexy rasp of his voice was as much of a turn-on as his demands. She bent over and braced her hands on the wall. The first smack on her ass made her jump. The second sent a sexual charge through her. He spanked her slowly and precisely, each slap ending with a caress.
After ten smacks, she was squirming. Her ass cheeks felt like they were on fire and her sex was like an inflated balloon between her legs. On one level, she wanted him to stop. But the submissive side of her sexual nature wanted more. “Please,” she breathed.
“Please what?” He paused, running one hand between her legs to stroke the wet folds of her sex while the other hand squeezed her ass. “Please, I want more?”
“Yes, more. Please. More.”
“Then bend your legs for me. That’s it, just a little more. Now spread your legs, babe. That’s good. Bend forward just a little more.”
She’d just gotten herself into positive when he penetrated her sex with his finger. The sensation was as potent as a jolt of electricity. It ran straight through her body and took up residence in her sex. She cried out, then inhaled sharply as his oil-slicked finger probed inside her.
“Christ, you’re tight. Tight and hot—a wet dream come to life.”
She wanted to acknowledge the compliment but could only moan as he stroked in and out, each time going deeper. She reached between her legs to fondle herself and he slapped her ass a strong smack.
“Not yet, baby. I’ll tell you when to come.”
Grace replaced both hands on the wall, fingers splayed wide and tense as he continued his sensual assault. Just when she thought she’d go mad with the longing, he withdrew his fingers, turned her around, and picked her up.
As her legs circled him, he carried her to the sofa. Her back had barely landed when he reached between them and guided his erection inside her. Grace gasped. It had been awhile, not just since she’d had sex, but since she’d had sex with a man as well-endowed as Beau, and despite having had two children, she wasn’t quite accustomed to it.
“Do it,” she breathed. “Take me, now, Beau. Please.”
Later, he would realize that he been waiting for fourteen years to hear those words slip out of her mouth and to know that she was his.
He pressed slow and steady, feeling her stretch to accommodate him, sliding inside her. The groan that came from her when he pushed inside her was one of longing and surrender, one that robbed him of reason and control. He grabbed her by the hips and pulled her to him, impaling her on his length.
She cried out, but moved against him, offering him all that he wanted. He stroked slowly, easing out just an inch or so, then pressing deep. He knew she struggled to accommodate him, knew that he was taking what she’d offered to no one else. That alone was enough to start the tremors in his belly as an orgasm started to swell.
He tried to prolong it, to move slow and easy, but the need was too great. She was his and the male inside demanded that he take her.
His breath came faster and harder as climax threatened to overwhelm him. “Baby, I can’t hold it.
”
“Yes,” she breathed, matching him in passion and need, the seductress giving way to the animal in her nature that longed to be taken, to be dominated. “Now, now, now!”
With a groan, he exploded. She screamed as an orgasm rocked her, her body rolling and bucking.
They both went limp and after a moment, he rose enough to roll off her and then wrap himself around her, the sweat of their bodies making them slick. For a few minutes, there was only the sound of their rapid breathing. Then breath slowed and languor set in.
In time, the air started to cool them, and she rolled over to face him. Beau looked into her eyes and emotion made his chest feel full and tight.
Grace smiled up at him. “Well, I remember you as being good, but my God, Beau. Is this what being a Shifter has done to you, cuz damn.”
“Damn as in you’re ready to run again or damn as in—“
“As in, holy shit you’ve got mad skills.”
Beau laughed and in a moment, she laughed too and before it was over, they were laughing like crazy, hugging and kissing. When they rolled off onto the floor, Grace lay back and blew out a breath.
Beau lay on his side and looked at her. She was more beautiful now than she’d been when they broke up in college. “I can’t believe you’re here,” he said softly and reached out to run his fingers over her belly.
Grace smiled at him. “I can’t believe we’re here.”
“Did you think of me, Grace? All those years?”
“Are you kidding? I have a vibrator named Beau.”
Beau grinned. “Oh yeah? You thought of me when you masturbated?”
“Every time.”
“Show me?”
“I will. But not on this floor.”
“Then come home with me.”
She rolled over to face him. “I want to but I have to be at Mama’s when my kids wake up.”
“I really like your kids.”
“They really like you.”
“Then maybe this weekend we could all go somewhere. Sort of a family trip?”
“Where?”
“Let me surprise you. I’ll make all the arrangements.”
“Okay.”
“Seriously?”
Grace’s smile vanished. “I learned so much, Beau, being connected with Sabine and Ily. They’ve endured so much, suffered and fought and sacrificed and yet they haven’t let it rob them of the ability to love—or forgive. I realized that in comparison, I’ve had it easy, and my pain was largely self-inflicted. I should’ve run away with you when you showed up at my wedding, but my pride wouldn’t let me, and because of that I lived with a man I didn’t love for all these years.
“But I got something precious out of it. My kids. And because he cheated, I was set free to come back home. To you.”
“Don’t leave just yet.” Beau took hold of her long hair and pulled her up to him. Their parted lips met and their tongues twined, tasting the essence of one another. Still joined in the kiss, he rolled her over and eased inside.
Grace smiled up at him and Beau found himself with a new wish. Until now, his wish had always been that he’d have a chance to win her again. Now, he wished that he’d see her smiling at him every night before he fell asleep and every morning after he awoke.
He wished that she and he and her children could be a family, and that one day they could have a child together. Beau wished for that and saw the love shining in her eyes.
And for the moment, all was right with his world.
Chapter Nineteen
“You be good for your gran, okay?” Grace knelt to give her kids a hug. Ida was taking them out for burgers and then to the local lodge where it was bingo night. She went once a month and had promised to take them the next time she went.
“We gonna win!” Theo declared.
“Well, I sure hope so. But you have to listen close so you don’t miss any numbers.”
“My ears are good, Mama.”
“And I’ll help him,” Sherri added.
“You’re such a good big sister.” Grace gave her daughter another hug. “Have fun. I’m going to want to hear all about it when you get home.”
“Will you be back by then?” Ida asked.
“Oh yes, yes.” Grace stood. “I’ll close up here before dinner and should be home by eight-thirty. We’re just going to the new little Italian place down the street.”
“Well, have fun, sugar, and we’ll see you then.”
“Thanks, Mama.” Grace gave Ida a hug.
“You bet.” Ida returned the embrace and then held out her hands to the children. “Okay, gang, let’s hit the road.”
“I’ll walk you out.” Grace fell in behind them.
Smiling and chattering, her family left. Grace helped fasten the kids into their seat belts, gave them more hugs and kisses, and watched as they drove away.
She returned to the store, humming to herself. For the first time in years, she felt there was hope for happiness. Grace checked the time on the old-fashioned clock mounted on the wall behind the counter.
The minute hand of the clock stopped just as she looked up and suddenly Grace was catapulted back in time.
She was sitting at the little table in front of the window, reading a book she had to a report on for school. There were no customers in the shop so it was quiet. So quiet that she could hear the tick of the old clock mounted on the wall.
When the ticking sound suddenly stopped, she looked up in surprise and noticed her father. He had his back to her and was stooped down a little with his hand inside a drawer on the back wall. As she watched, a section of the wall that was boxed in by a shelf opened.
Her father put an old leather-bound notebook into the space and then reclosed it. Grace quickly looked at her book, but couldn’t resist looking at him after a second. The expression on his face made her almost certain he knew she had watched.
Grace snapped back to the present with a jolt. Why would I have forgotten that? I know I would have looked the first chance I got, so why did I forget?
Just as Grace turned toward the back wall, intent on exploring, the bell on the front door jingled. She whirled back around to see Irene Dodd entering the shop.
“Hello, Mrs. Irene. I was just about to close up. Is there something I can help you with?” Grace walked around the counter as she talked.
“Why, yes, there sure is.” Irene held out her hand to Grace.
Grace had never been particularly fond of Irene but her mother had drilled respect for one’s elders into her since she was old enough to walk, so she thought nothing of taking Irene’s hand.
Pain shot up her arm and spread throughout her body almost instantly. White hot and paralyzing. Grace couldn’t even stay on her feet. Her legs collapsed, but Irene did not loosen her grip on Grace’s hand.
She leaned over close to Grace’s face, close enough that Grace could see that the entirety of Irene’s eyes were glossy black and her breath reeked of dead flesh, like an animal rotting in the heat.
Had she been able to do anything she would have drawn back, but the pain had her held solidly, allowing her only enough respite to comprehend what Irene said.
“You’re going to give me the cloaking spell.”
“I—don’t—have—it.” Grace could barely get the words out; the pain was so great.
“Oh, I think you do, and you will give it to me.”
Somebody help. Grace was officially terrified. She didn’t have the strength to break free. Or did she? Irene might be possessed, but she was old, her bones as well as her muscles weakened by age.
She forced herself to slump over, and it pulled Irene a bit off balance. When it did, the force Irene was exerting weakened just enough for Grace to jerk her arm.
Had it not pulled Irene even more off balance, Grace would not have broken free, but Irene stumbled, fell, and cried out in pain. Grace bolted to her feet and made tracks for the door.
She made it outside and ran smack into someone. A hand grabbed h
er and she looked up into a face she didn’t know. A man with completely black eyes. Grace screamed, kicked, and struggled as the man tried to open the screen door to force her back inside.
“No!” she screamed. “Help! Somebody help!”
Just as he got a hold on the door, a wolf leapt onto him. The man’s grip on Grace was severed, and he fell. The wolf positioned itself between the man and Grace, growling menacingly.
The man scrambled back on all fours, got to his feet, and fled. The wolf looked back at Grace and she held up both hands in front of her, palms out.
“Beau?”
A yip and wag of its tail told her what she needed to know. “The Umbra took over Irene. She’s in the shop. We need Ily.”
Beau yipped again and took off down the sidewalk. He stopped after a few feet and looked back at Grace.
“Oh! Oh, okay.” She followed him and he stopped at the corner of the building. In the alleyway was a pile of clothes.
Grace kept watch as Beau shifted back into human form. “Your mental link with her was strong enough to broadcast your fear. If you focus, you can communicate with her.”
“Are you linked with her now?”
“I am.” He shoved his bare feet into his shoes, snatched up his coat and tie and hurried to Grace. “She’s on her way, but she’s coming in dragon form so we need to create a distraction.”
Grace looked out of the alley, scanning the street. There were not many people around at this time of the day. It was that time when the day workers had already headed home and the restaurants were setting up for the dinner crowd.
An idea occurred to her. “Does your building have an alarm?”
“Yeah, why?”
“Can we set it off?”
Beau grinned and grabbed her hand. “The fire alarm will work better.”
Hand-in-hand, they ran down the block to his office building. With a swipe of his keycard, they were inside. Ten seconds after that he pulled the fire alarm. The din of the alarm had them both clamping their hands over their ears and running outside.
