by Sky Winters
She crossed the arm holding the glass in front of her and brought the free one to her mouth, covering it, as she looked down. Saying the words out loud filled her with a helpless, scared feeling, as she realized that she was in the middle of a situation that she had no idea how to navigate.
Atticus walked over to her, seeing that Tessa was clearly in distress. Standing next to her against the counter, he placed a hand on her shoulder. As soon as his skin touched hers, a feeling of safety and calm washed over her, as though simply being near this man was enough to let her feel that everything was fine, and that she didn’t have anything to fear.
“Sounds like you’re in a tough spot,” he said, setting his drink down on the counter.
“Yeah, you could say that,” said Tessa.
As Tessa stood near Atticus, the feeling of warmth and safety only grew, mixing with the attraction that she already felt for him. She was confused by her feelings, but what she wanted was growing clearer by the moment.
She turned and faced Atticus, looking up into his beautiful hazel eyes as he looked down at her, his brow knitted in concern. Then, giving in to the nearly overwhelming sense of attraction that had been building in her since she first lay eyes on him, she reached up, pulled Atticus towards her, and kissed him deeply and slowly. She could tell by the way his body tightened and tensed that he was somewhat surprised by what Tessa was doing, but he soon loosened, and kissed her back, wrapping his strong arms around her slim, small body.
CHAPTER 9
Tessa may have initiated the kiss, but Atticus took charge of the situation quickly. He leaned into Tessa, opening his mouth, his tongue slipping over and past her lips and meeting her own. He placed his hands on her hips, pulling her closer to him as he kissed her. Tessa took in a slow, deep breath through her nostrils, smelling his hot, sensual musk, the scent of a man who’d been working in the sun. Her fingertips moved along his arms as they kissed, the thin sheen of sweat on his body cool and wet against her skin. She wanted to drink him completely, to take in his manly essence, to envelop him into her.
Atticus began kissing Tessa on the on the side of her face, moving downward along her jaw, then down to her neck and behind her ear, the feeling of his lips on this delicate skin sending waves of gooseflesh along her limbs. The feelings inside Tessa were ones of passion that seemed strange, almost alien to her. She’d been with Lucas for years, and while she was still attracted to him, the passion seemed to have faded from their relationship as the years went on. But here, with Atticus, as he kissed her deeply and passionately, these feelings of almost animalistic lust were coming to the surface once again, seeming as though they might reach a boiling point at any moment.
Atticus, his hands still on Tessa’s hips, turned her body, placing her back against the countertop. Then, with a heave that seemed almost effortless, he lifted her onto the surface, her legs wrapping around him as she sat upon it. They continued to kiss and now their hands were exploring one another’s bodies, moving over and under each other’s clothing, to the places they both wanted to touch from the moment they first lay eyes upon one another. Tessa slipped her hands under Atticus’s shirt, confirming that his body was as hard and taut as it appeared to be. She felt herself grow wet as she snaked her hands along his body, feeling the hard divots of his tight abs and the solid contours of his pecs. It was a body that she wanted to feel, to hold, to have on top of her. And as she kissed and caressed him, Atticus moved his own hands below Tessa’s painted-stained shirt and simple, white bra, kneading her breasts softly, the feeling of his fingertips on her nipples driving her wild with lust.
Then, with a swift movement, he pulled her shirt off of her body and tossed it to the other side of the room before returning to kissing her. His hands moved down to the waistband of her pants, and after working the button free, he removed them with a slow, careful pull. Tessa was now bare aside from her white bra and simple, black, cotton panties. She felt slightly self-conscious, wishing she were wearing something sexier, but she realized with a sly smile that it didn’t really matter; she probably wouldn’t be wearing them for much longer.
Tessa slipped her hands up to the collar of Atticus’s shirt and pulled it off of his body. Though she was busy with kissing him, she knew she had to take a look at what she’d just revealed. Placing her hands on his shoulder, pushed him back slightly, her gaze dragging over his body. Sure enough, his torso was as sculpted and toned as she expected, its color a sun-kissed bronze.
“Get a good look?” he asked with a smile.
“Shut up,” she said with a wink before planting her lips back on his, opening her mouth wide, as though wanting to drink him down completely.
Whipping his shirt across the room, she next set to work on his pants, slipping the button out of the slit of his jeans and yanking them down with a hard jerk, taking his boxer-briefs down with them. She cast another side glance down as she continued to kiss him, noting with sly pleasure that his cock, by now rock-hard, was just as long and thick as she was hoping.
Atticus moved his hands up Tessa’s bare curves, moving up to her bra, reaching towards the back of it and unhooking the clasps. Pulling the bra off, her breasts tumbled free, her womanhood ample and full. She knew that though her body might be aging, she still had breasts that even girls in their early twenties would kill for, and judging by the way Atticus set upon them with his mouth, kissing and sucking on her pink nipples, Tessa figured that he agreed.
He stepped out of his jeans, which were now crumpled on the floor at his ankles, moving them over his boots, which he kicked off next. After he was completely disrobed, he slipped his fingers under the waistband of Tessa’s panties, pulling them down, her legs shimmying to assist him in sliding them off.
Tessa took a look at Atticus’s cock, wanting nothing more than for it to be inside of her right at that second. She couldn’t remember the last time she had felt such desire, such need for a man to be in her, to pleasure her.
Then, as if sensing exactly what she wanted, Atticus took his cock by the base, and with a slow, aimed motion, slid himself into her. Tessa let out a long sigh as he entered her, feeling each inch of him move into her, stimulating her in a fashion that was so intense that she could barely stand it. He held himself still, letting his cock rest buried within her for a moment, kissing her neck.
But Tessa wanted him to fuck her, and to fuck her now. Moving her hands to the firm, curved flesh of his smooth ass, she pressed against him, imploring him to push deeper into her, then to slide out, and do it all over again.
Tessa realized happily that Atticus was very good at picking up on hints. Sliding out of her, his cock stimulating her just as much on the way out as it did on the way in, Atticus began thrusting. Slowly at first, his throat emitting a soft grunt as he came to terms with how good his cock felt inside of her. Tessa’s hands remained on his ass, feeling the muscles beneath the taut skin flex and release as he thrusted, moving his cock in and out of her.
Gradually, he picked up the pace, thrusting harder and harder, his hips slapping against the soft skin of her inner thighs as he moved inside of her. Tessa closed her eyes, focusing on the feeling of him pounding her, feeling the pace of his thrusting build and build until he was hammering her at a pneumatic pace, her lower half feeling as though it was melting into cream as he fucked her. She moved her hands along his body, taking sweet pleasure at the feeling of his hard body underneath her touch, his torso seemingly created by the hand of a Greek sculptor. Tessa was in awe of his body, it was so perfect that she couldn’t even understand it; everything about Atticus physically was pure perfection.
She wrapped her hands around the wide span of his upper torso, resting her face on his brawny shoulders, taking in his musk as he continued to pound her. Tessa let her body relax, loosening her muscles and allowed no feeling other than the radiating waves of pleasure take hold, letting the world beyond melt away as Atticus buried himself into her, over and over.
Tessa felt an orgasm b
egin whipping into a froth deep within her. Atticus was fucking her at just the right pace, just the right intensity, for her to be lulled into the trance-like, almost hypnotized state that she knew would bring her to orgasm. She took in another slow draw of air through her nose, the scent of Atticus doing something to her, something that she didn’t understand. He smelled like pure man in his natural state, straight out of nature. She took another breath as he continued to fuck her, her legs nearly limp from the intensity of feelings that were coursing through her body like a rushing river.
Atticus’s grunts continued. Tessa had never had sex with him before, but she could easily sense that he was about to cum, and cum hard, his deep, full breaths signaling his orgasm’s arrival. And her own came closer and closer, ebbing and flowing like a steadily rising tide, pulling back, only to lap up further along the shore with the next wave. Next, her arms began to slacken and loosen, the power of his cock seemingly taking away her ability to keep her muscles flexed.
Tessa moaned more and more, her sounds of pleasure almost taking on a tone of pleading, as though begging him to fuck her, to not stop, to never stop, to pound her until her orgasm ripped through her.
Her orgasm arrived soon, followed by Atticus’s. Pleasure blasted through Tessa’s body like an unstoppable wave, her eyes rolling into the back of her head, her toes curling, her fingers digging into the thick skin of Atticus’s back. He grunted hard, emptying himself into her, driving his cock into her body as far as it would go. Tessa felt a brief, shrill scream escape her throat as Atticus unloaded himself into her, spraying his seed deep into her body.
Then, he slowed down, and Tessa’s orgasm ebbed gently. They held onto each other’s body for a moment, each taking slow, deep breaths.
Tessa couldn’t remember the last time she’d been fucked like that.
CHAPTER 10
Tessa sat on the floor, her nude legs splayed in front of her. Not only did she not want to move, she didn’t think she could even if she had to.
“Well, that’s a first,” she said, Atticus sitting next to her.
“What, having sex?”
Tessa playfully slapped Atticus on the arm.
“No, jerk.”
“Having sex with the electrician, then?”
“Well, I guess that would be another first. But I was referring to cheating.”
“Ah. That’s what some might call a dubious honor.”
“I suppose so,” said Tessa, debating how much to tell about her situation with Lucas to this man who she still didn’t know.
“I’ve never been married myself, so I wouldn’t really know about those kinds of things.”
Tessa raised her eyebrows in surprise.
“You’ve never been married?”
“No, ma’am,” he said.
“That’s…surprising,” said Tessa.
“How do you mean?”
“Well, you’re about my age, right? Late thirties?”
“Yeah, thereabouts.”
“When I think of a man my age who hasn’t ever been married, a man like you isn’t who comes to mind.”
“Oh?” asked Atticus, raising an eyebrow. “And what kind of man does come to mind?”
“The kind of guy who still lives with his parents. And spends most of his free time jerking off and playing video games.”
“Who says I don’t live with my parents?” he asked, a sly smile on his face.
Tessa slapped him on the arm again.
“And who doesn’t love jerking off and playing video games?”
Tessa laughed.
“OK, I get it,” she said.
“Seriously, though, I’ve had my fair share of serious relationships that went on for years, but nothing that ended in getting hitched.”
“Hmm,” said Tessa. “Sounds like someone’s got high standards.”
“More that I’m the sort of guy who enjoys his freedom. Well, take our little rendezvous just now,” he said. “Not really the type of thing you can do when you’re tied down.”
“Didn’t stop me,” said Tessa.
Atticus let out a quick laugh.
“I suppose you’re right. Though I get the impression there’re some extenuating circumstances in your case.”
“You’d be right on that.”
“Anything you want to talk about?”
Tessa did want to talk about it. She wanted to blurt out the who situation with Lucas, to get it off of her chest, to hear someone else’s opinion on the matter. But, again, she decided against it.
“Like I said, I think I’ve got an ex.”
“Say no more,” said Atticus.
Reaching across the kitchen and grabbing his pants, Atticus checked his phone.
“Whew,” he said, looking at the time. “I think I need to get going.”
“Duty calls, huh?”
“Something like that.”
He got up and stepped into his pants. Moving around the kitchen, he picked up his clothes and put them on, one after the other.
“I suppose we should talk business?” asked Tessa, standing and fetching her own clothes.
“Huh? Oh yeah, I did fix your electricity.”
He furrowed his brow in thought.
“You know what? I think this one’s on me.”
Tessa raised an eyebrow.
“I hope you’re not thinking we have a quid-pro-quo arrangement going on.”
“Ha. No, not at all,” he said, pulling his shirt on, Tessa feeling a slight tinge of disappointment as he covered up his body. “It was an easy job and I think it’s the least I can do for someone who’s going through what looks to be a tough situation.”
“You sure?”
“Positive.”
He reached into his back pocket and slipped out a silver card case.
“On one condition: You need any help, be it electricity-related or otherwise, you give me a call.”
“Aren’t you a good Samaritan?” said Tessa, taking the bone-white card with his information on it from Atticus and looking it over.
“Just think of me as a friend,” he said with a smile.
Tessa smiled, noting that part of her wanted to think of him as more than that.
His boots on, he walked towards the door.
“Anyway, I should get moving. Pleasure doing business with you, ma’am,” he said.
“Likewise, sir,” Tessa responded.
Atticus gave her a slight nod and headed out, Tessa’s eyes on him as he walked out to his black truck, tossed his tools in the back and with a final wave, drove off. A strange sense of longing in her heart, she watched as truck disappeared down the curving, winding road of the forest.
CHAPTER 11
Pulling his truck onto the main road of Branlen, Atticus Swift checked the schedule in the phone one last time, confirming that he was done for the day. Upon seeing that he was, he let out a sigh as he considered the workday that he had just finished. The memory of Tessa was as fresh in his mind as it could possibly be. Sleeping with a single woman while on a job wasn’t new to him, but this one was different. Ever since he had spotted her the other night while out with his brothers, he felt drawn to her. And when he learned that she was having troubles, troubles that put her safety at risk, he knew that it was time to enter her life in a more direct way.
Sure, his brothers and the other members of the pack objected, but he was their Alpha, and one of the benefits of that position was that he didn’t have to listen to siblings of a lower rank. But making unilateral calls like this came with a cost, and he knew he could only do so sparingly unless he wanted to risk a younger member of the pack challenging his leadership.
All of this weighed on Atticus’s mind as he turned onto the gravel road that led up to the compound where he, his brothers, and the other members of the pack lived. He drove away from Branlen, passing through the two-lane road that cut through the middle of a handful of buildings- mostly bars, grocery stores, and a movie theater that constituted the town center. He
drove off onto a winding, unpaved path that led further up Bear Mountain. It was the opposite direction he traveled when making his call to Tessa’s, though he and the rest of the pack could easily make their way to her place by cutting through the woods rather than by car- one of the advantages of their powers.
Atticus was a shifter. A bear shifter, to be exact, born with the power to change into a black bear at will. He didn’t know where, exactly, his powers came from, only that they had been passed on from his parents, and their parents before, and so on. After the death of his parents by poachers when he was only a teen, he was made the alpha of his pack, forced to adapt to the responsibilities of leadership at a young age. The bulk of the pack was the Swift family, him and his brothers, but many of the dozen or so men of the group were men without families, born- or cursed- with the same power of bear shifting, They had found that being a member of the Swift pack was preferable to attempting to make on their own- a wise decision, in Atticus’s opinion.
The gravel crackled as he drove up the winding path, the sun flickering through the canopy of tall trees heavy with lush leaves. After a time, he reached a large, imposing gate made of solid steel, covered in no trespassing signs and topped with conspicuous security cameras. He pressed the control on the sun visor and the gate opened with a mechanical groan. Atticus continued driving up, putting more and more distance between him and civilization. Eventually, he reached the second security gate, which he passed through in the same fashion.
Then, after another fifteen minutes or so of driving, the first boxy shapes of the compound became visible through the trees, the beige-colored buildings surrounded by a tall, steel fence that wrapped around the several acres of the property. As he drove closer, and more of the compound became visible until it dominated the view. Finally reaching the last gate, he put the vehicle into park, jumped out of the truck, and opened the several locks that kept the gate shut. Hopping back into the car, he drove through.
The Swift Compound was a massive set of buildings constructed nearly ten years ago by the pack when they decided that keeping the secret of their nature was just too much work while living among civilization. The main building of the compound was a huge thing, a four-thousand-square-foot place built so solidly that it almost had the appearance of a fortress. It was where he and his brothers lived, and the handful of smaller houses scattered among the property is where the rest of the tribe took up residence. Several cars were parked here and there on the property, but Atticus didn’t spot any sign ofthe pack.
