“We like it.”
Perhaps more inviting than the lake was the large covered deck at the end of a twenty-foot-long dock. Wide lounge chairs and seats surrounded a fire pit and sat across from an outdoor kitchen.
“I think I’m on a movie set.”
He chuckled and she drank in the sound. “I assure you that you aren’t.” Derek turned her to face him and cupped her cheek. “But I’m happy you like it.”
He kept his gaze on her for so long that she swore he was going to kiss her. The moon was almost full and the wind had died down. She no longer was cold, but perhaps Derek’s body heat was keeping her warm.
“Are you going to take me out on the water?” Or would you like to take off all my clothes, tie me to the dock, and fuck me?
As soon as that thought entered her brain, Jen knew she had been possessed. There was no other explanation for her behavior.
Chapter Four
Jennifer was so beautiful. The urge to claim her right there on the deck overwhelmed Derek. He’d always been in control of his cock. Hell, he could last hours if he needed to, but not with her. It was bad enough that his balls were being uncomfortably pinched in the tight space and his claws kept popping through the skin. The brief agony of them extending had brought him back to reality each time, but he didn’t know how long he’d last being alone with her and chance exposing his true identity. He and Hunter would have to explain the facts to her at some point, but if they broke the news to her too soon, she’d freak. They needed to find a way for her to fall in love with their human side first.
Now he almost wished Hunter had joined them, but they’d briefly discussed that she might be more frightened to have two men make love to her rather than one.
Needing to focus on the boat, he tugged on the rope to pull it close. “Hold on to my hand and step into the middle before sitting down.” He nodded toward the seat in the stern.
With a lot of agility, she stepped in the right place, but squeezed his hand nonetheless. Ripples of lust coursed through him. Between her touch and her glorious scent, he had to work hard to stay human. Being with his mate thrilled and scared him at the same time. The responsibility overwhelmed him, but he wanted her like he’d not wanted anything in a hundred years.
Once she was safely seated, he stepped into the board and sat. Their knees touched and his cock put more strain on his fly. Down, boy.
No amount of urging him to settle down was working. He reached behind him and grabbed two blankets. He placed the first one over her legs to keep her warm and handed her a second one. That would put an extra barrier between them. “If you get cold, wrap this around your shoulders.”
She smiled, and his heart skipped a beat. By the demons below, he was turning into a simpering woman, all gushing and having vapors.
Get a grip.
He untied the boat from the dock and placed the rope behind him. He picked up the oars and pulled so hard, the boat lurched and rocked.
“Oh, my!” Her shoulders tensed.
Shit. They zoomed backward too fast. He’d forgotten he was stronger than ten humans. So as not to give away their family secret right away, he dragged the oars in the water and didn’t row again until he’d calmed. Other than the whirr of the fountain, the only sounds were the oars moving the water, which gave him pause to see deep into her mind. While he’d never be able to read her mind exactly, he could sense when she was afraid, confused, or in lust.
Right now, she seemed content and full of wonder. Her wonderful response made him want to show her everything and to explore the world with her. He didn’t want to get ahead of himself too fast though. Once she learned they were shifters, he didn’t want to lose her.
It didn’t take long to get to the middle of the twenty-five-acre lake. He placed the handles of the oars in the boat and straddled his seat, placing his back to the side. “Come over here and lean against me. We can both watch the fountain change colors.” He knew it was probably stupid to subject himself to having her body pressed against his, but he couldn’t help it. “Keep low and let me guide you. Wouldn’t want us to tip over.”
Moving with caution, she slid from her seat to his without rocking the boat. Then she lifted her leg to the other side of his seat and leaned her back to him.
She wrapped her arms around her waist. “It’s so beautiful out here.”
He rested his chin on the top of her head and placed his arms over hers. “I often come out here to think.”
“What do you think about?”
Her question didn’t sound as if it came from her reporter half, but rather from the woman. He wanted her to know what it was like to be him. If they were to live together for years to come, there couldn’t be any secrets between them. Only now wasn’t the time to tell all.
“I’ve often contemplated doing something else with my life.”
“What do you mean?” She twisted her head to the side, and he tamped down the urge to kiss her cheek.
“When you’re born into wealth, sometimes you take luxury for granted. I’ve thought about moving to another country where I’m at a disadvantage and see if I can live on what I earn.”
“Have you traveled much?”
“Yes. My mother loved Europe. When Hunter and I were little, we lived in France for three years, and then Spain. My mom was from Italy, so we’d visit there often.”
He tightened his hold on her, not ever wanting to let her go.
“I’ve never been anywhere.”
“Oh no?” He smiled. “Well, then the next time I have the urge to fly somewhere, I’ll be sure to ask you to join me.” Damn. He hoped that didn’t sound too forward.
She didn’t respond, but when she relaxed back into him, he knew he hadn’t blown it. They talked about Raleigh and then apparently one of her favorite topics, the Carolina Panthers. The season was about to begin, and she asked what he thought of the draft picks. Because The Shield used the professional football team as a cover for calling their compound Panther Cove, he was quite up-to-date on their affairs.
“I suck at guessing who will be good and who will lose their place on the roster. Injuries play such a big part of the game that it’s hard to have much confidence, and I have no idea a player’s affinity for learning all the different plays.”
“I can’t imagine getting hit all the time.”
He’d so wanted to play football, but their mentor and head Shield honcho forbade it. Since Derek and all the other shifters could anticipate an opponent’s move, it would appear a little odd when they avoided getting hit. Being stronger and faster than the humans would make it an unfair advantage.
“I think the men are so full of adrenaline that they don’t feel it much until the next day.”
As much as he wanted to stay here and talk all night, his cock was itching to try out her pussy. Gently, he pressed her back forward. “I think we need to get back.”
“Okay.” He loved there was a bit of disappointment in her tone.
With enough power to return in a hurry, but not so much to give away his hidden talent, he rowed back to the dock, tied off the rope, and hopped out.
“Give me both hands.”
When she did, he lifted her straight up and set her gently on the dock.
“Wow. You’re strong.”
He posed for her then laughed. “Let’s sit for a bit. I’m sure Hunter will be out shortly.”
Hand in hand, he led her to the lounge chairs where she stretched out while he got out some wine from the cabinet. He uncorked the bottle and poured the drink. “Here ya go.”
He settled in next to her on the two-seater lounge. It was like he was ten years old, intent on kissing his first girl. What was wrong with him? He didn’t want to scare her, but from her scent, he could tell she was ready for loving.
Be patient.
“If I lived here, I think I’d come out here every night. It’s so peaceful.”
He, too, loved how the moonlight reflected off the water, and when combined
with the uplighting, the place was magical. “I almost do.”
She sipped her wine. When her tongue caressed the back of the glass, he couldn’t take it any longer. He placed his glass on the side table then slipped the glass from her hand. As soon as he set it down, he leaned over and kissed her, causing his body to explode with need. His freaking fangs poked through the skin, and the urge to make his mark on her neck had him trembling.
Control yourself.
What he hadn’t expected was for Jennifer to push him away then immediately straddle him. His groan came out too loud. “You trying to kill me?”
She unbuttoned three buttons on his shirt, and his urges zoomed through his blood. He had to make sure she knew what she was doing. He stilled her hands. “Jennifer?”
“What? Don’t you want me?”
Was she kidding? “More than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life. I want you to know that if you touch me once more, there’s no turning back.”
She grinned, and a piece of him fell a little more in love with her. “I’m glad we’re on the same page.”
He had to make sure she wasn’t doing this because she believed if she did, he’d tell all of Panther Cove’s secrets. “Are you sure you don’t have an ulterior motive?”
She sat back up. “No. I’m not here as a reporter anymore but rather as a woman in need.”
That was good enough for him. He leaned forward and retracted the lounge chair so that it lay flat. In order to keep himself under control, he placed his hands behind his head. “Go ahead, darlin’. I’m all yours.”
She actually squealed in delight, which only made his cock harder. She leaned forward, and when she tugged on his shirt to free it, he sucked in his stomach to give her room to pull it loose. The front half came out from his pants, and she fumbled with getting the rest of the buttons undone.
“Need help?” He was dying here.
“I’m good.” Once she opened his shirt, she ran her hands over his chest.
Her fingers were like spikes of desire stabbing his heart. The hair on the back of his hands was poking through his skin. If she noticed, she’d run.
“Your touch is driving me crazy. I have to have you.”
She smiled. “That so?”
He swallowed. “From the first moment I saw you, I knew you were the one. I’m sorry if that sounds hokey, but it’s the truth.”
She leaned back, sticking her pretty titties out at him. “What if I don’t want to be the one?” Her coy comment had him instantly responsive.
In a flash he had her on her back and he was straddling her. As fast as he could, he pulled open his fly, dragged down his pants and briefs to his hips in one fluid move, and let his cock pop free. “Change your mind?”
* * * *
Holy shit, holy shit. Every cell in her body exploded. She’d never seen anything bigger or more beautiful in her life. As if her finger had a will of its own, she dragged the tip from his balls up to the slit in the top. “He’s huge.”
“Touch him all you want, but know in the end, we will make love, and it won’t be like anything you’ve ever experienced.”
She glanced around. “You want to do it out in the open?” She’d never had sex outside before.
“No one would dare come near.”
“Except Hunter.”
“True.”
That fact should have scared her, but it didn’t. There was something about these men that blanketed her with a calm. She was clear-headed, so she wasn’t under any influence, and the moon wasn’t even full, so she had no explanation for her urgency other than to say these were two amazingly nice and sexy men. She admitted that if she made love to both of them that it doubled her chance at finding out more information, but at this very moment her new job was the last thing on her mind. Her pussy was pulsating so fast, even she could smell her own arousal.
She refocused her attention on his cock. The covered gazebo, rimmed with little white lights, cast a nice glow over them. It was enough to see his pre-cum brimming in the slit. “You like it when I touch you like this?” She wrapped her fingers around his meaty cock and lightly moved her hand up and down. “Or like this?” She held on tight and kept the same contact as she moved her hand.
His growl sounded so low it was like it came from deep in his chest. His hand wrapped around her wrist and his gaze locked onto her eyes.
“Darlin’, you do much more of that, and you’ll be watching a geyser instead of experiencing it up close and personal.”
She giggled. “We wouldn’t want that.” She had to have his cock inside her if it was the last thing she did. Normally, it took hours for a man to excite her to this level. With Derek, one heady glance from him and she was all wet and willing.
“No, we wouldn’t.” He ran his gaze down her length. “Maybe now would be a good time to get you naked.”
That sounded good, but she so wanted to slowly strip him.
Before she got the chance to put her plan into action, he lifted her off him, and set her on the deck. He then jumped off the lounge, ditched his shoes, and shucked his pants leaving on his unbuttoned, white shirt. He looked sexier than any man should. His hips were narrow and his thighs huge. Perhaps it was his rippled abs that drew her gaze after she unlatched her attention from his tumescent cock.
She’d been staring so hard that she hadn’t even taken off her shoes. He wanted her naked and that was what he would get. “Oh, sure.”
After she toed off her strappy sandals, she lifted her arms to unbutton her shirt. Before she got to the top button, he pulled her close and kissed her like a man possessed. His cock pressed against her belly as he slipped his tongue into her mouth. Instead of being rough or controlling, he gently explored her mouth, almost tickling the roof with his relaxed care.
His hands clasped her shoulders and massaged them, easing the tension away from her body. She wrapped her arms around him and loved how the hard planes of his chest almost made her nipples hurt. Their breaths hitched as she pressed her stomach harder against his cock.
He drew his head back slow enough to keep their lips in contact for as long as possible.
“As I said before. You are way overdressed.”
She glanced up and gave him her coyest pose. “Oh, yeah? What are you going to do about it?”
He stepped back and undid the top button of her blouse, then the next, and the next. He still had a few to go, but instead of finishing the job, he lowered his hands to her waist and dipped his head. Derek dragged his tongue from between her breasts to the hollow of her throat, sending lustful chills up her body. She dropped back her head to give him room, and her nipples pebbled from the erotic lust rushing through her.
He raised his hands from her waist to her breasts and thumbed her nipples through the bra.
“Your nipples are hard.”
That’s because I want you. “It’s a little chilly out.”
He unhooked her jeans and slid them over her hips. With one tug, they were down to her knees. Thankfully, her panties stayed in place.
“You are so beautiful.” He traced a finger along the top of her panties, tickling the hair on her belly.
“Thank you.” She wasn’t used to such praise and didn’t quite know how to handle this virile man.
He pressed down on her shoulders to indicate she should sit, and once she did, he tugged off her jeans. His eyes widened as he ran his palms up and down her thighs almost reverently.
“I can’t believe how perfect you are.”
She would have laughed, but his sincerity rang true. “Don’t you have busloads of women coming on to you?” Dumb thing to ask, but why does he seem so taken with me? Not only was Delight a college town, but it had a top-notch genetic research facility that probably had a ton of female scientists he’d find intriguing.
He grinned. “You want to know why I find you so particularly fantastic when I could have my pick of all the women around here?”
“Yes.”
He dragged a knu
ckle down her cheek. “Because you’re the one.”
Chapter Five
I’m the one? There was that phrase again. Now Derek was almost scaring her with his intensity. He’d said it once before, but it didn’t make any more sense the second time. “Can you define that concept?”
He glanced over her head as if he needed a moment to really think about the answer. “It just means that the moment I saw you, I could sense who you really were deep inside, and I knew I had to get to know you.”
“Oh.” So they had chemistry. She liked that. The fact she felt it, too, made all her doubts disappear. She leaned closer. “So where were we before I got sidetracked?”
He lifted her legs and placed them on the lounge then straddled her thighs. He finished unbuttoning her shirt and dragged the sleeves down her shoulder. Once he slipped off the flimsy top, he blew out a slow breath as he lowered the strap on her push-up bra.
“I like this.” He ran one finger along the top of the pink, lacy cup.
“Would you like to see what’s hidden beneath it?”
He leaned back and laughed. “You are such a delight.”
No, she’d lost her mind. Maybe it was his wealth, his self-confidence, or perhaps the forbidden nature of what she was about to do, but the moment she caught sight of him and his brother, something inside her had snapped. No longer was this just about an assignment to learn about some secret society, but rather she wanted to get know the man, to learn about his dreams and his goals.
“Why don’t you lean back and let me love you?”
The L word reverberated in her head. It was a concept she hadn’t heard often, even from her parents, who were too busy making ends meet to offer her much support. No man she’d ever met fascinated her like Derek.
Or Hunter. Don’t forget him.
He leaned down, folded her jeans, and placed them under her head. “That good?”
“Yes. Hurry.” Damn. She bet he didn’t want an easy woman, and right now she was easier than easy.
His grin reached his eyes and dimpled his cheeks. Her swoon came out audible.
Protecting Their Mate [Panther Cove 1] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 4
