Taming Alaska

by Katherine Rhodes

  “Tati will keep Patrick out for just a few minutes,” Martin offered, his voice strained and rough.

  “Got it.”

  Martin took the stairs two at a time while I finally found the nerve to stand from the table and walk to Garrett.

  The closer I got, the hotter it got, the more my panties were soaked. Garrett’s nose flared, and a deep basso rumble overtook me.

  “What is going on?”

  I stepped into grabbing distance for him and he didn’t hesitate to haul me against him—and his massive erection.

  “It’s the Alpha effect,” he managed.

  Uh-oh.

  Lowering his head, he snuffled at my neck, nipping at the skin there. My legs were weak, and I didn’t think I was going to be able to hold myself up much longer. Whatever this Alpha thing was, it was affecting me, too.

  “Then fuck me, Garrett.”

  “I can’t be gentle.” His voice was getting deeper, more primitive. Damned if it didn’t ripple through me, pebbling my nipples.

  “I didn’t ask you to.”

  “You can walk away.”

  I grabbed his chin and twist him to look at me. “No, I can’t. Fuck me.”

  A full-on growl in the next moment drowned out all thought and he hauled me into the living room. I groped at the button on his pants, pulling it open and yanking down the zipper.

  He was equally busy at my waist unfastening the pants and sliding his palms around to my ass, squeezing me.

  I shoved his pants off and down to his knees and he managed to shimmy mine down so far I was able to pull a foot out.

  I heard the distinct tear of material and watched as he flung the remains of my panties across the room. I would have laughed but there was still too much Alpha in the air for me to be anything but turned on.

  “Hands and knees,” he murmured in my ear.

  I didn’t ask. I didn’t wonder. I was compelled to take him inside me. I stepped back and turned to the plush rug in front of the cold fireplace, and dropped to my hands and knees—but a second later, I dropped to my elbow and wiggled my ass at him.

  I needed him to fuck me.

  Garrett dropped to his knees behind me, his hand fisting his cock and pumping. The strain on his face showed how hard he was trying to be considerate. I watched him a moment, and it was overwhelming to want him in my pussy.

  I felt utterly wanton, and it was amazing.

  Putting all my weight on one arm, I reached the other back and slipped a finger inside myself—I was soaked with want.

  He saw the finger and growled. Pulling my hand off myself, he slipped his shaft up and down my wet lips a few times, and then—

  His whole dick was deep inside me in one motion.

  Hissing a breath out through my teeth, I didn’t trust myself with words. Garrett’s hands gripped my waist and he started thrusting.

  Thrusting might have been kind. He was pounding himself into me, hard and fast. The air filled the sound of his flesh hitting mine, his hips connecting with my ass. His heavy sac slapped against my clit with each desperate pump of his hips.

  A moment later he leaned down and dragged his teeth across the skin of my neck. My entire body reacted, trembling at the delightfully filthy implications of that move.

  His finger was on my clit, and instead of his usual gentle tease, he rubbed me furiously. His erection filled me to the top each time he yanked my hips back and there was something amazing about the blunt head of his cock bottoming out inside me.

  I’d never had any kind of rough sex like this before.

  I’d been missing out.

  “Harder,” I whispered back at him.

  My body shook with the rumble of his pleased growl, and he certainly had no problem with harder. I grunted at each thrust of his hips and heard myself moaning, “Yes, oh, yes.”

  “Coming,” he grunted quietly in my ear. At the same time his cock plunged into me one more time, he pinched the bundled nerves, and the world exploded in white. I couldn’t stop the shout that escaped me as I came. I felt my pussy clench and ripple around him, trying to pull him deeper.

  When my entrance tightened around his base, he shouted his climax and his cum raced into me, filling me as he slammed himself in. And again. And again.

  I couldn’t breathe or even move for long seconds as he came inside me.

  Garrett wrapped his arms around my shaking body and pulled me to the ground with him, tucking me into the spoon of his body.

  As I started to rise from the haze of satisfied lust, I heard another plaintive cry of orgasm from above us somewhere.

  I meant to be embarrassed that Garrett had just fucked my brains out on the carpet in his parents’ house—while they were upstairs doing the same thing—but I couldn’t find the words or energy.

  Wrapping my hands around his on my stomach, I relaxed into him.

  “What the hell…”

  His tongue traced along the column of my neck, wringing one last shudder out of me. “It’s the Alpha effect. When an Alpha has to pull his power in and assert himself—or herself—and their mate is in the area, it’s sheer sexual heat left behind after the threat is gone.”

  “That’s why your mother…”

  Garrett let out a long, low breath. “Yeah. I never really understood why they went running, or why Mom was stripping as she ran. But… well, now that I owe you a new pair of panties, I get it.”

  “You’re awfully chill about your parents having sex.”

  Nuzzling my ear, he chuckled. “We have to be. One, we’re adults far longer than we’re children. Two, we’re naked around each other, a lot. And three, sex is part of being a shifter. We burn hotter. We have massive libidos because of our wolves.”

  I nodded. “The four Fs. Fighting, fleeing, feeding, and fucking.”

  The laugh rumbled through me. “Yes, exactly, Miss Science.”

  “Garrett?”

  “Mm?”

  “We’re half naked with our bits hanging out on your parents’ rug, and the place smells like sex.”

  “Yeah, I know.”

  “Can we at least get dressed before they come back down? I’m not used to casual nudity or being okay with parents and sex in the same house.”

  He kissed my cheek, offering a hand to help me up.

  I was glad. My legs were jelly. I needed his help even pulling my pants back on. I was glad he worked from behind me. There was still Alpha on the air, and if I saw his cock just waiting for me, I was likely to go at him again.

  He kissed my forehead and seemed to read my mind. “Go, use the bathroom. It’s smart to put a little distance between us right now.”

  Trotting off, I found the bathroom.

  While I hoped that didn’t happen again in his parents’ house, I’d be a liar to say I wouldn’t mind it happening again.

  Rough sex.

  Check.

  I was going to walk funny for a few hours.

  * * *

  Working like mad, we managed to get the rooms painted, the bathrooms together, the solar panels wired and working, the fridge in—and Zanna wanted samples of what molds she couldn’t identify for further testing—and the stove up and running.

  We were finally on week three and getting the rest of the house done. All details, except for the second bathroom. That was still major.

  Everyone had started living in the house as soon as the bathroom and kitchen were complete.

  Everyone, except me.

  I had ensconced myself at Garrett’s house, and in his bed. I had finally conceded over the weekend to put my clothes in a drawer there.

  I padded through the house to find Garrett’s tools and suspected he had left them in the bedroom.

  It was where I remembered pulling the tool belt off him to get his pants down. We had thoroughly defiled every room in the house in the past three weeks.

  This house, and his.

  I opened the bedroom door and instantly regretted it.

  As fast as I could, I
backed out and closed it.

  Addi had been wrapped around Patrick, and Patrick was holding her against the wall. There was no need to guess what was going on there.

  Garrett reached around me to open the door, and I shook my head. “Nuh-uh. Nope. Don’t go in there.”

  “I need my tools.”

  I lowered my voice. “Yours, fine. But, you need to not see your brother’s tool. He’s…busy.”

  Garrett’s eyes grew wide, but his question was quiet. “What? Who’s—”

  Wrapping my hand around his collar, I pulled him away. “Addi. Addison.” He tried to yank away and go back. “No! No. Don’t. Addi has been closed off for years, and she’s needed a good shagging. Just, leave them.”

  The back door was open, and I headed out that way.

  Garrett was right behind me. “Jess, I love Patrick. But he’s not a…stand-up guy when it comes to women. He’s a bed hopper.”

  “Just please. Let Addi have this. She has sexual hang-ups that she’s been trying to get over for years. If your playboy brother wants to shag her ass against the wall, and she’s down with it, then let’s let it go.”

  He wrapped his arm around mine. “You’re gorgeous when you’re defending your friends.”

  “You just want to get in my pants.”

  His breath trailed over the shell of my ear. “I want to get in your pussy.”

  My body shook at that suggestion. I narrowed my eyes. “Nope. Off-limits. Two more days.”

  He huffed. “Stupid cycles.”

  “Hey, it happens. I’m personally glad it showed its ugly head because we have been fucking like bunnies and I’m shocked I didn’t have an entire fluffle in there.”

  Garrett gave me an amused, confused look. “Fluffle?”

  “A group of rabbits is called a fluffle, and since we’ve been fucking like bunnies…”

  “Oh my God, Jess.” He put a hand over his eyes and shook his head. A second later he grabbed my wrist and pulled me away from the house. “Jess, you don’t have to worry about that at all. I can’t get you pregnant until after we’re mated, and we make the decision together. There’s a thing we have to do…”

  I arched an eyebrow up. “A thing?”

  “A ritual sex thing.”

  “Are you serious?”

  “Yes.”

  I stared at him. “Well, that’s convenient. I’m still closed for business right now, and you’ll have to wait to take possession.” I smirked and started to walk away, but he pulled me back.

  “Jess. This isn’t about me. Because frankly your fellatio is stunning. I miss you, and giving you pleasure and hearing you scream.”

  Well.

  I pulled him close and slammed my mouth over his. The kiss was hot and thorough, and I knew both of our knees were weak when we backed away from each other. “I promise you, I will come to you naked and you can do whatever you like to me. As soon as it’s safe.”

  “I miss your taste.”

  I shivered. “Stop. Stop. I can’t do anything about it.”

  The back door swung open, and Patrick appeared on the porch. He stared at me, then pitched Garrett’s tools at him.

  Pointing at me, he had an angry look on his face. “Not a word.”

  “My lips are sealed.” I nodded. Addi needed this trip as much as I did.

  With a smart spin, he walked back in the house.

  Garrett let out a huff and tried not to growl. I stared at him. “He really has to learn not to threaten people in front of me, most especially if I have an attachment to them.”

  I saw a flash of red and looked down. Garrett had dug his claws into his hand, trying to control his response. I gasped and held up his hand, peeling his fingers back. “Garrett, retract your claws! Christ, relax. Please, he wasn’t threatening me, he was protecting Addi. Stop.”

  It was what he needed to hear, and his claws drew back into his fingers, leaving bloody gashes on his palms. After a few hard breaths, he slumped a bit.

  “Thank you. I didn’t even think of it that way.”

  “I know. I mean, he does have to learn to phrase things better, but that’s not what he means.”

  I had seen Garrett start to Alpha-out a few times since that first time, but none were as powerful as that first one.

  I placed a kiss on his lips. “Breathe, Garrett. It’s okay.”

  He smiled at me. “Thank you. You’re very handy to have around.”

  “You just like my handies.”

  We both cracked up laughing in the next moment and leaned together for a little bit of support.

  Our mirth was broken in the next moment when there was a distinct ‘yip’ from beyond the trees. Garrett and I exchanged looks and listened. It filtered out again, and I could tell it was not threatening. It wasn’t even for communication.

  It was purely to get our attention.

  Grabbing my hand, Garrett moved us slowly closer to the trees at the end of the property. He was looking around—his eyesight would be insanely better than mine.

  The yip sounded again, not that far from us on the right, and Garrett followed the sound.

  We walked only about twenty yards farther before a coyote appeared from beneath the undergrowth. I wanted to run, or hit him with a stick, but Garrett gave my hand a squeeze and held me still.

  The coyote, smaller than all the others I had seen, walked forward with its muzzle down, and as it got closer, it sank closer to the ground until he was nearly crawling on its stomach.

  Garrett’s wolf chuffed, accepting the supplication.

  I was shocked I knew that it was his wolf.

  “Okay, Wendell, that’s enough.”

  The coyote, Wendell, apparently, hopped back up onto his four paws. A second later, he shifted into his human form.

  The man who appeared there was short—but I couldn’t help notice he was not lacking elsewhere. I bit the inside my lip, reminding myself that shifters were used to casual nudity.

  The men almost seemed to flaunt it.

  Typical.

  “What’s going on, Wendell? Why are you out here?”

  “Forgive me, Alpha. I’ve learned a lot since my exile with these assholes, and I came here to see if I could work toward that being lifted.”

  “I’m not your alpha.”

  He huffed. “I know. But helping others is part of what I’ve learned out here. The rest of the exiles are planning to attack the women. The first night there are no men or shifters here.”

  My hand grasped Garrett’s forearm, but I said nothing.

  “How do you know this, Wendell?”

  “I’ve heard them all talking. They want to take the women and keep them. For… fun.”

  Garrett glanced at me, and I worked my jaw. “When?”

  “They’re always here, watching at night. It’s how they knew to attack last time. There’s always a sentinel that comes when the workers leave. They want to steal all the women.”

  Blinking, he stared at Garrett again. “They want to kill your mate. They won’t keep her. They’ll just take the other four.”

  “I’m not even here anymore.”

  His golden-brown eyes swung to mine and pierced me. “You think that’s going to stop these assholes? They are exiles for a reason. They are not good creatures.” His gaze dropped to the ground. “I am sorry. I didn’t mean…”

  “Wendell, it’s fine,” I said. “I get that you’re horrified by their actions. It’s a good warning.”

  Ducking his head, he took my compliment.

  This Alpha shit was weird. We weren’t even mated.

  I still wasn’t even sure I was staying at the end of the summer.

  Garrett stared at him, and I could hear him thinking hard. “How much patience do they have left?”

  “Not much. Not much at all. They are planning to take them soon. Even if there is a laborer who gets caught in the crossfire.”

  With a single, sage nod, Garrett thanked him. “I’ll let your Alpha know of your warning, an
d how it’s helped us to plan and protect the women.”

  “Thank you, Alphas.”

  Stepping backward, he shrank back into his coyote form and belly-crawled backward into the underbrush. He only ran when we couldn’t see him anymore.

  My breath escaped in a huff. “Do you ever get used to that?”

  “What?”

  “The complete and utter dichotomy in the respect you get? He was belly crawling, and the other day, Bart was a belligerent asshole.”

  The chuckle was quiet. “The amount of respect comes from both their personalities and their status in the pack. Bart is an asshole who thought he should be higher than just an ordinary wolf. Wendell isn’t even in my pack, and he’s an exile from his own. He needed to belly-crawl, so I didn’t immediately break his neck.”

  The gasp slipped out.

  Interlocking our fingers, Garrett kissed my knuckles. “We have a brutal culture, Jess. That’s the way it is. Though, of late, we are far less likely to strike out and just meet justice on a whim. Which is where the exiles came from. Hoping they’d be disconnected from their pack would change them.”

  “Not working.”

  “Only Wendell has shown any change from exile, and that was the first time I saw it.”

  We wandered back out of the woods and stood staring at the cabin. I let the silence go for a while, just staring at my friend’s house.

  “What are we going to do?”

  Patting my hand with his free one, he smiled. “We change the rules. Come on, the girls will think we were just spooked by a coyote, but the shifters will know what’s really going on.”

  Chapter Ten

  She belonged here.

  Opening my eyes to the sun dancing in the room, my nostrils filled with the smell of pure Jessica. She was soft and fresh, and the king-sized bed wasn’t being fully used because most nights, she fell asleep wrapped around me.

  More than once with me still inside her.

  God, that was fantastic.

  She made little morning noises, and with that scent of her wrapped around me, I was instantly hard.

  “Mm. Happy to see me?”

  The soft, sleepy words didn’t help my situation. Almost every night, for the time she’d been here, we’d fucked each other to sleep. Or made love until we passed out. Or had sex on every surface and tried to figure out how we’d gotten to bed at some point.