The tingle at the base of his spine was too much, and he thrust to the hilt, letting his hot semen fill her pussy. When the last drop was wrenched from him, Sy leaned against Kaya’s back, put his arms around her waist, and kissed the back of her neck.
As her feminine scent filled his nose and her heat warmed his chest, he realized holding her just felt...right. He’d been hurt by her actions from all those years ago, but when he put that anger aside, he felt the pull Kaya had always had on him. He was starting to think they might fit better now than they ever had when they were younger.
Of course, that was a dangerous thought, but he ignored the warning bells inside his head. He squeezed her waist and decided, fuck it. He was going to pursue her and find out if he was right. No matter what happened, it would be better than always wondering ‘what if.’
~~~
Kaya’s wolf reveled in the feel of a naked man at her back, holding her close in his arms. Touch was something the animals in them craved, but Kaya had ignored the need for too long. Or, more likely, while she’d had touch, she hadn’t had the right kind. She was an alpha female and her wolf would only be happy with an alpha male’s touch. Sy might be outside the hierarchy of her clan, but as DarkStalker’s second-in-command, he was most definitely an alpha. Given the chance, he could soothe both the woman and the wolf.
But then Kaya remembered the dead wolf-shifter she’d seen a few hours ago, and instantly felt guilty. Here she was, dreaming about having a man to cuddle and comfort her, and all the while, another infected wolf could be roaming the mountains, infecting one of her clan members right this instant.
She was clan leader first, and she could never forget that.
Kaya lifted one of her hands from the ground and found Sy’s hands at her waist. He tried to lace his fingers with hers, but she grabbed his fingers and tugged at his hand. “Let me go, Sy.”
For a second, he did nothing, but then he released her. As he moved away, she felt his cock slide out of her. She tried not to notice the empty ache with him gone. Instead, she stood up and brushed the dirt off her hands and knees.
She squared her shoulders and turned around. She hated how Sy had an unreadable expression on his face.
Oh well, best to act as if she hadn’t just had one of the best fucks of her life. “We should quickly rinse off and get back to the car or we’ll never make it to Seattle before midnight.”
Sy stared at her for a second before he said, “Okay.”
Then he picked up his clothes and walked out of the cave without another word.
That was exactly what she’d wanted him to do, so why did she feel more than a little pissed off at his actions? For a few seconds, she’d felt as if Sy had wanted to keep her for more than one quick fuck. But either she’d misjudged him or he was letting her not-so-subtlety know that if she wanted him again—or anything more—she’d have to voice it out loud.
She gathered her clothes, squeezed through the crack that served as the cave’s entrance, and passed through the cascading waterfall. Stepping into the small, cold pool of water at her feet, she looked around and noticed Sy was gone.
Well, then. She felt a little hurt at his “fuck and leave” method, but at least he’d given her two mind-blowing orgasms.
As she quickly washed between her legs, the tenderness of her skin brought back the memory of her on her hands and knees with Sy pistoning behind her. She had missed that kind of closeness, and by extension, trust. If her inner wolf didn’t trust him, it never would’ve allowed him to take her from behind.
She wasn’t quite sure how to interpret that.
Deciding it was best not to dwell on that fact for too long, she stepped out of the pool and wrung the water from her hair. She was about to start her trek back to the car when Sy reappeared and tossed something at her. She caught the t-shirt as Sy said, “Since we were going to pick up some clothes for you in the city, that’ll have to suffice for now.”
For some reason, the fact he’d only left so he could fetch her one of his t-shirts to wear made her feel happy.
Shit. So much for being a mature and collected clan leader. All it took was some great sex for her to start acting like a teenager.
She resisted the urge to lift the shirt up to her nose to breathe in his scent, and instead, simply tossed it over her head. Since she was nearly as tall as him, the shirt barely covered her pussy and ass, but at least it would protect her breasts and sensitive skin from the bushes and trees of the forest.
She forced her gaze upward, and damn the man, he was still stoic. Fine. If he was going to act like nothing had happened, so would she. That might actually work best. They both needed to focus on tomorrow.
“Thanks,” Kaya said before heading back to the car.
~~~
The next morning, Sy stood in the kitchen of the apartment DarkStalker rented in Seattle for visits. He stared at the coffee machine and willed it to finish brewing. He’d had a hell of a night, and only caffeine was going to get him through the day.
Kaya had spent their drive to Seattle replying to emails and doing who the hell knew what else on her smartphone, but he hadn’t minded her purposefully ignoring him. After all, he was still trying to figure out what he was going to do. He hadn’t imagined her going soft in his arms yesterday, nor had he misjudged the longing in her eyes last night. She was lonely, plain and simple. The problem was, she would rather be tortured than admit it.
She took her job as clan leader seriously. He would never try to change that, but whether she knew it or not, the woman needed to learn to relax and lean on at least one other person. Otherwise, within a few years, she might have a nervous breakdown. Not because she was female; no, because he’d heard of it happening to other mateless clan leaders in the past.
Yet, if Kaya had someone to lean on, she would probably become even stronger and more determined than ever to change some of the patriarchal shifter ways to the benefit of her clan. And to be honest, the more he started to imagine himself as the person she turned to, the more he wanted it to be true.
Yes, shit had gone down between them when they’d been younger, but last night he’d realized that none of the other women he’d ever held or fucked had fit as perfectly as Kaya Alexie. She was smart, sexy, stubborn, and would be able to keep up with him in the bedroom. And most of all, when she didn’t try to hide behind the emotionless mask of a leader, she was extremely fun to provoke.
He had planned on devising a strategy to get her naked with him again last night, but instead, he’d spent the time replaying every sexual encounter he’d ever had with her. Even now, his cock was hard and hurting for relief. One night with Kaya would never be enough.
The coffee machine chimed it was done and he took out two mugs. After pouring milk into one and spooning sugar into the other, he filled them with coffee, and headed for the second bedroom. He banged the door with his elbow and received a muffled, “Come in.”
Maneuvering one cup to rest between the wall and his hip, he opened the door, and then grabbed the cup again. He stepped inside to see Kaya lying on the bed, her hair mussed around her face as she rubbed her eyes with the back of her hands. He couldn’t help but smile at the sight. “Good morning, sunshine.”
She lowered her hands and glared. He laughed before lifting one of the cups of coffee. “I come bringing caffeine.”
Her brows eased and she sat up. “Then hurry up and give it to me. Otherwise, you’ll be dealing with the grumpy as hell version of me.”
He didn’t move. “I would think after two orgasms last night, you’d be a little more relaxed.”
He waited to see if she’d brush the topic aside or address it head on. When she picked up a pillow, he knew she’d brush it aside. “Give me the damn coffee, Sylas, or this pillow is going to make friends with your face.”
Since they had an appointment with one of his contacts in about an hour, he decided to pursue the topic later. “Okay, okay.” He walked over and handed her the mug with milk.<
br />
She took a sip and smiled. “It’s perfect. I can’t believe you remembered how I like it about half coffee and half milk.”
He sipped his own coffee. “I was once a caring boyfriend, if you remember.”
She looked at him askance. “I remember you getting the coffee ready as soon as you woke up to avoid dealing with my grumpiness.”
He shrugged. “Hey, there’s nothing wrong with self-preservation.”
He waited for her to argue, but Kaya remained quiet. Neither the man nor the cougar liked her silence, so he decided to stick to a safer topic. “I’ve set up a meeting with our most trusted man inside DS Engineering. He was sort of a hacker as a teenager, but gave it up to go to college.”
“How long have you known him?”
“I’ve been acting as a liaison for the software engineer division for four years now, and Dave has been there from my very first day. I also know if there’s anything he can’t do, he knows someone who can.”
Kaya nodded. “Fine. Since Trinity made some calls and had clothes delivered here for me before we arrived last night, I just need a shower. Give me five minutes to finish my coffee, and another twenty to get ready.”
He gave her face and then the gentle slope of her breasts underneath one of his shirts a thorough perusal. “You sure you don’t want some help in the shower?”
“Sylas.”
He met her eyes again. “Whenever you use my full name, I know to leave it be.” He moved to the doorway and decided to take a chance. “But I’m going to let you know now, Kaya Alexie, that once we ensure your clan’s safety, I’m going to pursue you full-on. I spent all last night thinking of every way I want to fuck you, and I plan on recreating each and every scenario.”
She paused with her coffee cup halfway to her mouth and he could smell her arousal. One night wasn’t going to be enough for her, either.
With that, he smiled and shut the door behind him.
The words had just come out, but he was glad he said them. With any luck, she’d now think about him in the shower.
Chapter Eight
Since becoming clan leader, Kaya had rarely had the opportunity to leave GreyFire’s land. In truth, it had been about two years since she’d last been in Seattle, and she hadn’t been able to see much when they’d arrived late last night. Now, in broad daylight, she could see and drink in the eclectic mix of modern glass buildings nestled right next to old brick ones. Since it was a rare blue-sky day, she could also see the beautiful mountains to both the west and east of the city with the dark blue water of the Puget Sound in between. Sure, she lived in the Cascade Mountains to the east, but there was something almost magical about seeing the snow-topped peaks at this distance.
All too soon, Sy turned their car into an underground parking garage beneath one of the office buildings and the sights of downtown were replaced with a low-lit concrete contraption. She might live inside a mountain, but at least her den had ample lighting and air circulation. Her inner wolf itched to get back outside.
Sy turned off the ignition and Kaya couldn’t exit the car fast enough. She moved toward Sy, but as soon as she was within arms’ reach, he hauled her up against his chest. She gasped at the hard muscles pressed against her breasts and her nipples betrayed her by going hard. She looked up into his eyes and her voice was breathy to her own ears as she asked, “What are you doing?”
Sy gave a wicked smile and squeezed her tighter against him. Then he leaned down to her ear and whispered, “You’re supposed to play the part of my girlfriend, remember? Since anyone could be watching, we can’t turn it on and off. Shifters like touch, and when we’re in public, I’m going to keep you glued to my side.”
She was about to give him a harsh whisper scolding when he bit her earlobe and she drew in a breath. As he licked at the bite, her heart rate kicked up and warmth spread through her body. He bit her again, and she grasped the shirt on his chest as wetness rushed between her legs.
Damn it, her body responded far too easily to his.
Sy growled and stopped his attentions to whisper, “I can smell you, Kaya. Tell me I can fuck you again later, or I’ll never be able to concentrate during our upcoming meeting.”
The images she’d had in the shower of Sy fucking her against the cool tiles while hot water cascaded over their joined bodies came rushing back. Before she could stop herself, she said, “How can you still do this to me, and make me want you? By all rights, I should still hate you for standing me up at our engagement ceremony ten years ago.”
Sy nuzzled her cheek. “Did you ever think maybe all of that was supposed to happen, and only through our mistakes and maturing apart, could we fit together better in the future?”
She pushed against his chest and Sy leaned back. As she stared into his green eyes, she wished she could fall for his pretty words and see what happened, but too many people were counting on her right now. Whatever the hell was going on between them would have to wait. “We need to go or we’ll be late for our meeting.”
His jaw set in a firm line, but then he leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on her lips. The touch was fleeting, and she barely registered it before his warmth was gone. Sy released her and held out a hand. “Then let’s go.”
She put her hand in his, loving the feel of his strong, rough hand gripping her own. She yearned to have those rough hands roam her body before pulling her close into a tight embrace. But no matter how much she wanted it, she had a job to do first.
~~~
As Sy guided Kaya out of the parking garage and out onto the street, he tried not to smile. Sure, Kaya hadn’t jumped into his arms and professed undying love, but she’d admitted to wanting him. That was a start.
And his cougar approved.
Soon they reached the designated meeting area on Third Avenue. After crossing the street, they ascended the small flight of steps to an open plaza strewn with old bits of the building that had once stood there. He wasn’t entirely sure what purpose they served, but humans seemed attached to their architecture, so he wasn’t going to question it too thoroughly.
He pulled Kaya over to the wall on the side of the plaza, which doubled as a tall planter, to partially obscure them from view. He leaned back, spun Kaya around, and pulled her against his chest. Before she could say a word, he whispered, “Your height gives away that you’re a shifter. I can get away with it, because some human males are tall, but you can’t. Leaning against me helps give the illusion you’re shorter than you are. The less attention we draw to ourselves, the better.”
She harrumphed, but nodded. His inner cougar purred at the heat of her of body against his, as well as her sweet grass scent filling his nose. The cat wanted to come out, rub against Kaya’s legs, and try to earn an ear-scratching, but he wasn’t about to shift in the middle of downtown Seattle. People here were more accepting than most places, but there were shifter haters everywhere. A shifter who let down their guard was most likely a dead one.
He kept watch on the comings and goings of people, looking in particular for his human contact. Thankfully, Kaya kept silent and never tried to pull away while they waited for the human to arrive. If anything, she relaxed more against him as he squeezed her tighter, enjoying the feel of her body in his arms.
Less than five minutes later, his thirty-year-old, slightly overweight contact ascended the stairs to the plaza. Not wanting to draw attention to himself, he kept quiet. Dave knew where to find him.
His contact turned and headed straight for him. He looked a little confused at the woman in Sy’s arms since Sy had always come alone in the past, but smart man that he was, he didn’t question it. He held out a small piece of paper and Kaya took it. She opened the scrap and he read over her shoulder, “Markgen.”
Sy looked back up to Dave. “Are you sure?”
His contact nodded. “The encryption was fairly easy to break, if you knew what to look for.”
Markgen was one of the biggest pharmaceutical companies in the State of Washin
gton. Getting into their headquarters was going to take some hard-ass finagling. Sy would probably have to trade in every favor he had.
He nodded at Dave. “Thanks. I owe you one.”
Dave eyed Kaya again and Sy resisted the urge to growl at another man’s eyes on his female.
Wait, since when had he started to think of Kaya as his female again? He was going to have to watch that. Just because he’d fucked her didn’t mean he had a claim on her. According to shifter tradition, clan leaders had to make a claim first, and Kaya hadn’t done so. But he was working on that part.
Sy thanked his contact and waited until he was out of earshot before he whispered into Kaya’s ear, “Since I don’t have to visit DS Engineering’s branch location until tomorrow, I think we should grab some food and head back to the apartment to exchange information and come up with a plan.”
She nodded. “Sounds good.”
Kaya was tense as she rose up and moved out of his arms, and he started to get the feeling the wolf was keeping something from him. DarkStalker had little involvement with companies like Markgen since the pharmaceutical company had never contracted DarkStalker for work, but GreyFire’s bread and butter were vaccines and new drug therapies. They had probably worked with the company many times over.
The only question was whether she would trust him with the inner workings of her clan’s business interests or not.
He moved to Kaya’s side, placed a hand at her waist, and urged her back to the parking garage. The sooner he got them back to the apartment, the sooner he could try to find out what was bothering Kaya. He didn’t want her to face this alone.
Sy tried to think of the best way to approach this. He’d worked with his brother for years, and while he was still getting to know Kaya’s style, she put her heart and soul into her clan, just like his brother. No doubt, there were some similarities in their work ethics.
Reclaiming the Wolf (Cascade Shifters Book 1) Page 7
