“It’s just dinner,” Levi said. “We’ll eat, have a beer, and we’ll grab our things, just like I said. I’ll have you back here before midnight.”
Hope tried, but she couldn’t think of a good reason to say no. Until they’d started talking the mate business, she’d been comfortable with them. In fact, she’d had the night of her life. She’d already let them take her to bed, so one dinner wouldn’t hurt. “I’ll go, but only if we don’t talk about me being your mate tonight. Just a nice, friendly dinner. Deal?” She hoped they would say yes. She did enjoy their company when they weren’t trying to convince her that they were her destiny.
“Deal,” they said in unison.
* * * *
It was strange being back in the Black brothers’ house. When she’d walked out of it just a couple of days ago, she’d been sure she would never see it again. Of course, she’d been wrong.
If she was honest with herself, she was excited to be there with them again. As crazy as it was, and despite how freaked out she still was over discovering they were wolf shifters, every fiber of her body had screamed at her to stay close to them. And the way they doted on her, constantly doing little things to make sure she was okay, finding reasons to touch her hand or put their arms around her, that tugged at her heart, too. But it wouldn’t be fair to go to bed with them, not knowing how serious they were about all that “fated” business. When this was all over, she’d walk away, and she didn’t want to stomp on their hearts when she did it.
Adam pushed his chair away from the table, drawing her attention back to him. “I have to head out, but I’ll meet you at the lodge before you have the chance to miss me.”
All Hope could think was fat chance. She missed him already, which was entirely inappropriate. His presence was altogether too addictive for her. It felt too right.
“Where are you going?” She was surprised he’d leave. It was her first night back in River’s Bend after all. Ugh. Hope mentally shook herself. She had no right to have expectations of him. No right at all.
“One of our females had pups this morning. I’m just going by to see how the mom and babies are doing.”
Levi laughed. “Tyler is the one you need to check on. I was with him this morning when he got the call that Macy was in labor. He looked ready to pass the hell out.”
Adam nodded, grinning. “He’s been nervous since she passed her second trimester.”
As far as reasons for leaving were concerned, Hope figured that was a good one, ignoring the pangs she almost always felt at any mention of babies. I’m over it, she told herself for the millionth time. I’ve worked hard to get past all that. “Do you always greet the new babies?” He didn’t look like the baby-kissing type.
“I try to. Our father used to do it, but lately he’s had his hands full with other things. So, I go in his place. Our other alpha isn’t much for pups.”
Hope had yet to meet this other alpha, Nikki’s father-in-law, but she detected a note of disapproval in Adam’s voice. She watched as Adam walked across the room to the back door. There it was again, mixed in with her continuing awe at his sheer size, the disappointment at his departure. And, silly as it was, disappointment that he hadn’t said good-bye.
“I’ll help you with the dishes,” she told Levi, pushing her chair back and standing to clear the table.
Levi smiled at her but shook his head. “No need. I got this.”
“I want to. Really.” She wasn’t going to let him do everything by himself. After gathering a stack of plates and salad bowls, she walked to the sink and began rinsing them to put in the dishwasher.
“Alright, but don’t tell Adam I had you working. We agreed you wouldn’t have to lift a finger while you’re with us.”
“It’s too late. You’re caught in the act.” Adam’s voice came from directly behind her, followed by his huge arms wrapping her in a tight embrace. His lips brushed the length of her neck from her collar bone to her ear, provoking another round of the shivers both men were so good at producing. “I’ll see you soon, Hope.”
* * * *
Hope had never really liked her name. It was too simple, boring even, but she liked the way Adam and Levi said it. Their deep voices made her name sound like some sort of rare, decadent treat rather than just an ordinary name for an ordinary woman.
“He loves it, you know.” Levi’s voice pulled her out of her thoughts as he sat next to her on the carved wood bench.
“Who loves what?” She blinked at him in the darkness, all too aware of him now that he was sitting so close. There was plenty of room on the long bench, but Levi chose to sit so close that her arm would brush his bare chest if she moved. They’d gone outside to sit on the porch and enjoy the peace of the night along with the cold beers Levi had brought out for them. Levi had immediately removed his shirt, saying he felt more comfortable without it. She almost wished they weren’t having an Indian summer, so he would keep his clothes on. “Sorry. I zoned out there for a minute.”
“Adam. He loves the clan and every member of it. Going to see those pups tonight, that’s not just a duty to him. It’s who he is, which is why he’ll make a great alpha someday.”
Hope chewed that over, listening to the quiet chirp of crickets and the crinkle of leaves as a light breeze brushed through them. “I hope you don’t mind me asking…”
“You can ask me anything. With you, I’ll always be an open book.”
She didn’t know about always, but she’d take it for now. “Do you mind? I mean, does it bother you that he may become the alpha instead of you?” She hoped she wasn’t opening up a can of worms with that question, but it had been burning in her mind since she’d met their father. Did the blood son resent that the adopted brother might become the next alpha instead of him?
“No, Adam was meant for it. It’s what he was born to do. And me? Well, I’d do it if I was called to. You know, out of duty…And don’t get me wrong, I do love our clan and River’s Bend every bit as much as Adam does, but being alpha is just not for me. When I’m painting or building something, I feel like I’m doing exactly what I was born to do.”
Hope smiled. “That’s exactly how I feel when I’m working on an illustration or even just a logo for one of my clients. It’s work, but when I’m doing it, I’m sort of in the zone. And I’m happy.”
“That’s how it is for me. And I know that’s how Adam feels about the clan.”
“But he might not become alpha?”
Levi took another swig of his beer before answering. “When our father and the co-alpha are ready to step down, our clan will vote on the next leader. They can vote for anyone, but leadership often passes in families. I think most of our clan would vote for Adam, but we have a co-alpha now and he has sons, too, so it’s possible that one of them could become alpha instead.”
She didn’t like the idea that Adam might be passed over. “Could they be co-alphas? I mean, since there are co-alphas now?”
“That could happen, but this is the first time in the history of our clan that there have been two leaders. We’re not sure how this will all work out. And there’s always the possibility that someone will challenge the vote. If that happens, whoever wins the vote will have to fight the challenger to become leader.”
She didn’t like the sound of that, either. So far, the wolf shifters had seemed rather civilized, but fighting for power reminded her that they were still sort of animals. Of course, that assessment wasn’t really fair, was it? Humans fought for power, too, and their fights killed thousands or even millions. “Does that happen often?”
“Not really. It’s a rare thing, but that’s how we came to have a co-alpha. The Raven Clan and the Lycans had been fighting over River’s Bend for a while and it was all coming to a head. Both alphas, though, are getting a little old for challenges. So when Nikki discovered that their alpha’s son was her fated, we found a way to merge the clans and keep the territory without challenges or war.”
“It sounds complicated. Is there still fri
ction?”
“There was at first, but I think we’re finding our way to becoming one big clan rather than two clans forced together. And we can’t afford to fight each other anymore. Not with…”
Hope waited for him to continue, but when it became obvious he wouldn’t, she had to ask. “Not with what?”
He wasn’t facing her, but she could tell he was frowning from his side profile. She just didn’t know why. When he finally spoke, it wasn’t what she’d expected to hear. “You know what else makes me happy? Makes me feel like I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be?”
That was a hell of a change of subject, but she guessed she could let him get away with it. She reminded herself once again that she didn’t have the right to push him for answers to things that were none of her business. “No, what?”
“Making love to you.” He turned to meet her eyes, not a trace of a smile on his face.
She could tell from the look in his eyes that he meant it. She’d walked right into that one.
* * * *
Levi had purposefully changed the subject, not wanting to scare her with the clan’s problems. It was hard enough for her to accept what they were and what being with them meant she would become, but to add on that there was a pack of dangerous wolves on the move across the country, trying to force other packs to fall in step with them, seemed just the thing to solidify her desire to run from them. No, that conversation could wait, and she didn’t have to worry about any of that anyway. They’d protect her—with their lives.
His change of subject wasn’t entirely devious, though. He meant what he said. Making love to her had made him happier than he could ever remember being. Hell, just sitting out on the porch with her made him feel like jumping for fucking joy.
“Please don’t say that.” She said it quietly, but with conviction.
“Why? It’s the truth.”
“Because I can’t give you what you want.”
“You can. In fact, you’re the only one who can.”
She stood, her arm brushing against his and sending little jolts of electricity through his body as she went to stand at the porch railing. “Levi, I can’t be your mate, so saying…that being with me makes you happy…It makes me feel badly.”
He walked over to stand behind her, wrapping her in his arms. He felt her shiver violently. “Cold?”
She shook her head no. “I don’t know if I’ll ever feel cold again.”
He liked the sound of that. If he could, he’d make sure she never had another moment of discomfort—ever. “I want you, baby.”
“Don’t say that, either.”
“You want me, too.”
“Of course I do.” She shrugged in his arms. “You and Adam are all I’ve thought about the past few days. I want you so much it scares me, but…”
Levi buried his nose in her hair, then nuzzled her neck. “But?” He couldn’t miss the unmistakable scent of her arousal nor the way she quivered at his touch.
“I just don’t want anyone to get hurt.” She sighed, and he felt her whole body heave. “I meant it when I said I can’t be your mate, and if we…”
“Make love?”
“Fuck. If we fuck again and you’re hoping we’ll live happily ever after, you’re going to get hurt.”
It was sweet that she worried about his feelings, but there was no need. He knew in his bones that she would come to accept them. She had to, so there was no risk of anyone getting hurt. “Let me worry about that, Hope. I need you, and I know you need me. Don’t deny me what’s meant to be mine.” He ran his hands up and down her arms and then splayed one hand over her belly as he ran the other up to cup her breasts. “You were born for me. We’re fated. Don’t fight it.”
She moaned in his arms and, encouraged, he moved his hands down to cup her pussy. Even with the material of her jeans between his hand and her flesh, he could feel the heat there. She was ready for him. She just had to admit it to herself. He pressed his hand against her mound. “Say you want me.”
Her voice was breathy when she finally answered. “You already know I do.”
He turned her in his arms and lifted her chin, so she had to look him in the eye. Her body was pressed tightly against his, and it was all he could do to keep from tearing her clothes off where she stood. He brushed his lips softly against her mouth and her lips parted for him. “I need to hear you say it.”
“It won’t change anything.”
“Then you shouldn’t be afraid to tell me.”
“I want you.” Her voice hitched as she spoke, but she’d said it. “God help me. I want you, Levi.”
He growled with pleasure and wasted no further time in lifting her in his arms and carrying back into the house. She hadn’t agreed to be his mate, not yet, but she’d admitted she wanted him. That was a start.
* * * *
Hope knew she’d regret it in the morning, but she couldn’t deny what he obviously saw so clearly. Her body screamed for his touch, so she could only hold onto her good sense for so long. “What about Adam?” she asked as Levi lay her in the center of his huge bed.
“What about him?” His cock stood at attention, saluting her from the side of the bed, sending jolts of desire straight to her pussy as he stripped.
“Is it okay for us to do this?” She felt silly asking, but she didn’t want to cause a problem between the brothers. “Alone, I mean.”
He kissed her neck, removing her shirt and deftly unfastening her bra. He then buried his nose between her breasts, inhaling long and deeply before kissing and licking each of her nipples in turn. “We always thought we might one day share a mate, so there’s no jealousy between us. He’ll be happy we enjoyed each other. Don’t worry.”
She hoped he was right, but she couldn’t hold the thought in her head for too long, because the way he mouthed her breasts made her want to beg him to bury his cock inside her right then. Arching upward toward his mouth, she wove her hands through his hair, unable to think of anything other than how good, how right his touch felt.
Lifting her slightly, he removed her shirt and tossed it aside. Then he came down on her, kissing her softly at first and then harder and more insistently, his tongue at first exploring her mouth and then actually claiming it.
By the time Levi released her mouth, she was breathless, a condition that hardly improved as he kissed and licked his way back down her chest to her belly, nibbling at her navel, then her hips as he unbuttoned her jeans and slid them down over her hips. Nuzzling her thighs as he slid the material down her legs, he finally pressed his lips to her pussy.
The anticipation as he’d made his way down her body had been too much and she bucked against him. The first touch of his tongue to her slit had her moaning under him, and when he parted her nether lips and found her clit, she thrashed her head back and forth on the pillow, overwhelmed with the pleasure his flicking tongue provided. It must have been all those dreams she’d been having, or maybe the way she’d been imagining his touch all damned night, but she went from zero to sixty in record speed. When he pushed a finger into her slick channel, she gasped. When he added another, she groaned, closing her eyes and practically shaking with the dual pleasure of his fingers in her pussy and his mouth on her clit.
“I can’t wait to be inside you,” he said against her inflamed flesh before fastening his tongue and lips on her clit and sucking hard. Hope shattered underneath him, moaning loudly as wave after wave of pleasure rolled through her pussy and flowed through her body, reducing her to pure sensation. She held on, her fingers in his hair, needing to touch him, needing his support as an almost-unbearable climax took her body.
* * * *
God, she was beautiful. Levi had always known fate would send someone perfect for him, but if hers was the last face he ever saw, he’d die a happy man. And the sight of her, flushed with the pleasure he’d given her, made his heart swell and his cock grow impossibly hard. He withdrew his fingers from her pussy and put them to his mouth, savoring the tas
te of her juices and the smell of her cunt. He’d tried to remember it over the past few days, but he’d been off. His imagination couldn’t produce anything that sweet.
Moving upward, he used his knee to spread her legs wider and looked down at her. He wanted to watch her face as he entered her pussy. She didn’t disappoint him. Her mouth dropped open at the first touch of his cock to her entrance and the look of sheer pleasure as he drove himself inside her, burying his cock balls-deep, had him questioning how long he would last. He stiffened as her pussy clenched around him with the aftershocks of her climax. Then, when he felt in better control of himself, he pulled out to the tip and then plunged deep inside her once more. Her little gasps and moans drove him crazy as he thrust in and out of her, but that was nothing compared to the way he felt when she raked her nails down his back and wrapped her legs around him.
He kissed her, their tongues dueling. He’d had many women, but no one had ever made him feel so powerful yet so weak at the same time. Levi never wanted to let her go. “Have you ever felt anything so good? So right?”
The instant it was out of his mouth, he regretted it. Perhaps she had. She’d been married before. Maybe she’d already experienced something like this with her ex-husband. Levi felt a scathing hatred for the man who’d had her love before him.
Hope gasped and moaned, rolling her hips and arching against him, her skin feverish, her response searing his soul. “No. Never.”
Her answer, those two simple words, filled him with unbelievable joy, and as he claimed her mouth once more, he reached between them to find her clit. Her body fit his perfectly, and he couldn’t hold back much longer. Stroking her clit, he pumped harder and faster into her, waiting to hear her cry of pleasure and the telltale pulsating of her pussy that meant she’d found her release. When it came, she screamed his name and he lost his last thread of control. Wrapping one hand in her hair, he surged into her once more and growled deeply as his balls gave up the fight and emptied into her pussy.
Claiming Hope [Wolves of River's Bend 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Page 12
