I pull away for a moment and close my eyes.
“This is how it’s supposed to be,” I mumble to her
I work to keep myself under control, to keep a slower pace, and not rush.
I catch a sudden wave of Red’s feelings…the want and need is there, and it makes it more difficult to control myself.
I try to relax, but when Red pushes her body into mine, I fully lose any control that I had.
Her arms fly around my neck, and I do nothing to stop her.
Her lips find mine as her hands reach for my belt buckle.
She wastes no time in unbuckling and unzipping my jeans.
I reach for the last towel and yank it from her body as she pulls my tee shirt off and throws it across the room.
I wrap my arms around her, lifting her in one swift movement.
Her legs immediately cinch around my waist and I steady myself quickly and push her against the nearest wall.
She moans loudly and I feel her nails dig into my back briefly
I begin biting tenderly down her neck in a way that leaves only tiny little marks but enough to make her groan with pleasure.
I use my strength to lift her upwards as I move my mouth down her body.
She tugs at my hair as I clamp my teeth down on one of her nipples.
She releases another moan, and her breathing becomes choppy as I work my way down her core, kissing, biting, licking, and unable to control myself.
I finally find myself in a squat position.
I quickly adjust Red’s legs over my shoulders, and I feel her shake.
Everything in me wants to have her, every single piece of her right this minute.
I need her.
Not to just satisfy the raw animal craving that has built up inside me, but because I need every piece of the one thing that I ever wanted and needed so badly.
I slow my kisses past her belly button and move to her inner thighs.
I look up at her and her eyes catch my gaze.
She’s breathing heavily, her legs begin to tremble more as I steady her against the wall.
I drop to my knees to maintain my own balance.
When my mouth finally latches to her, letting my tongue do the work for me, she releases a noise filled with such intense pleasure that there’s no going back.
I need her even more now
* * * * * *
I rest over her comfortably, letting my nose rub slightly against hers.
She exhales my name in such a way that I never want to move.
I rest my forehead on hers and listen to her breathing become steady.
I press closer to her just to feel her heart beat become regular as I feel her hand up and in my hair
I smile.
“I think I owe you some fruit.”
She laughs.
“Well, I’m not moving.”
“I can get it,” I tell her
She gives me a soft look.
“Actually, I was hoping you wouldn’t move, either.”
I smile.
“The fruit will just stay then.”
She sighs as I make my way to her side.
She closes her eyes and settles in next to me as I yank a few blankets over us.
Her head finds a nice spot on my shoulder as I now hear a loud banging, followed by hysterical laughter through the wall.
I roll my eyes and begin to get up.
Red holds me back.
“Just ignore them.” She laughs
I laugh and give her a nod as I settle back down.
Before I can really speak, I look over to see Red is sound asleep.
Her face is finally relaxed and her beautiful glow is as peaceful as it has ever been.
I feel a tingling sensation inside as I slump in next to her and quickly fall asleep myself
Morning comes earlier than I want it to as I stretch in bed and rub my eyes.
I jolt up to look around and suddenly remember everything that’s happened.
Josh.
James.
Ethan.
My mouth drops.
I’m pregnant
I feel my cheeks blaze for a moment with embarrassment.
I threw myself at Ethan last night.
I run a hand down my face and release a long sigh.
I’ve never done that before, but for some reason I couldn’t control myself.
I wanted him more than I have ever wanted anything.
I swallow hard…having sex with him again only reminds me of the undeniable fact that I am pregnant with a complete stranger’s baby
I fight off a little pang of nausea mixed with pure fear.
I look next to me; Ethan is gone, but it’s apparent he’s been right in the spot next to me.
Not only is it still warm, but there’s a little note with a single chocolate covered strawberry waiting for me.
In messy handwriting the note has a small heart saying, “Red, eat this.
I’ll be right back.
Ethan.”
I smile and pick up the strawberry, bringing it to my lips.
I hear a loud crash from the room behind me and have to remind myself that his brothers are in that room.
I take another slow bite and sigh.
I have to be insane.
It’s the only logical explanation.
Things like this don’t happen every day.
Let alone to me.
I finish the last of the strawberry in one large bite, chewing happily.
Guess I was hungrier than I expected.
I crawl out of the large bed and grab a handful of grapes on my way to the shower.
I hurriedly eat the small handful and turn the hot water on as I slip inside.
For some reason, now I feel the need to look at least half way normal.
I wash my hair and scrub my body with the soaps and shampoos left in the bathroom by the hotel staff.
Though the shower is relaxing, the growling from the pit of my stomach forces me to end my shower quicker than I would had liked
I jump out and dry off quickly before sneaking into the room to grab a bag from the Gap and one from Victoria’s Secret.
I look down in the bags and realize we’ve missed some of the most simple of toiletries, but the hotel is efficient and I’m pleased to find a toothbrush, tooth paste, and deodorant all placed in a basket on the counter.
I begin dressing in simple jeans and a red long sleeve fitted tee shirt.
I blow dry my long hair, pin it straight, and sneak back into the Victoria’s bag where I’ve managed to pick up three of my favorite and simple beauty items: mascara, eyeliner, and lip-gloss.
It’s a simple luxury, one that I had missed and greatly appreciate getting now.
I am applying them carefully when I hear Ethan’s voice coming from the main room.
I finish rubbing on the lip-gloss and greet him
He jumps back for a moment and smiles.
“Wow.”
I notice that he’s carrying a tray of food, and I walk over to help him.
He gives his head a shake as he places it on the bed
“You look beautiful.”
I feel my cheeks heating up.
“I just wanted to feel like me again,” I say
“You really look so incredible.” He smiles and points to the tray.
“I thought you might be hungry.
I wasn’t sure what you liked, so I got you coffee, juice, hot chocolate, water, and pop.” He laughs.
“I grabbed fruit, waffles, toast.
If you want something else we can get it.”
I smile and happily reach for the cup of hot chocolate.
I sigh deeply and have a long sip
“Good?”
I nod.
“And I’m st
arved,” I admit, reaching for a piece of toast
“We can always get more,” he tells me
“We should get James some food, too,” I tell him, having a huge bite of toast.
“Hospital food is beyond the worst.”
He gives me a sad look.
I can tell he wants to know how I know that, but he’s afraid to ask.
I may not have wolf-like senses, but I can read body language
He gives me a slight nod as he helps himself to a piece of toast.
I hear another loud bang from his brothers’ room, this one making me jump
“I’m sorry,” he shakes his head.
“They’re being idiots.”
I laugh as I grab some fruit that he brought and begin to nibble on some banana slices
“How are you feeling this morning?” he asks
I shrug.
“Better.
Things are settling in.
Well, I think they are anyway.” I let out a slight laugh.
“It’s a lot to take in.”
He gives me a nod.
“I think we will do just fine; it will just take a little time,” he tells me, smiling.
“I think we’re planning to go see James,” he says.
“Is that okay?”
I nod.
“Of course.
Hopefully, this time I won’t be such an emotional wreck.” I have another drink of hot chocolate.
“I didn’t exactly keep it together so well yesterday.” I feel my cheeks flush from sudden embarrassment
He smiles.
“It’s okay; we were all emotionally distraught.
Today will be better.
I’m sure James will be excited to see you.
You did save his life.”
“I only did what I knew to do,” I tell him, reaching for more toast
“And, it saved him.” He smiles, now taking the cup of coffee for himself
I smile and take a minute to look at him.
He’s wearing a pair of worn jeans and a fitted black tee shirt.
Like the one he had on the first night I saw him, this one accentuates his muscles with ease.
Though he’s not clean shaven, I can tell he’s trimmed his scruff.
It looks pretty adorable on him.
Fitting.
He grins up at me, having another drink of coffee as the loud banging switches from the wall to the door
He shakes his head.
“You’d think they were little kids.” He opens the door to find Eli, Colt, Aaron, Ian, and Trent all smiling.
They brush past him, a few patting his shoulder as they do
“Enjoy the room?” Trent asks
“Sounded fun,” Ian adds as he plops on the bed.
“Hey!” he yelps.
“This bed is way softer than mine.”
“I don’t need the play-by-play or anything,” Aaron says, “but, it sure sounded like you two enjoyed yourselves.”
I shake my head as I feel my cheeks heat up again, mortified that I couldn’t control my wild urges last night.
I reach for an orange that I begin to silently peel.
That’s when I notice I have six pairs of eyes staring at me in such a way that it makes me look up.
My mouth opens, startled that something is terribly wrong
Eli smiles.
“You look…” He stops
“Like,” Aaron pauses.
“You look like ....You really are gorgeous.”
“Beautiful.” Ian adds
I feel myself flush as I fight with the orange and pray the juice doesn’t squirt me in the eye.
I catch a glimpse of Ethan who is now beaming
* * * * * *
I’ve been given a job as we walk into the hospital, to carry the restaurant bag and give James the burger, fries, and large pop that we’ve brought him.
I honestly think it’s because they’re all worried he’ll pounce once he sees real food, and they know he can’t attack me.
As we walk in, I slither in behind Aaron, Ethan, and Ian.
I’m not surprised to see a police officer standing with his back to us.
James’ eyes immediately fly from the officer’s to mine
“Red.” James smiles.
“You look much better today.”
I smile.
“Thank you.
We brought you something.”
His eyes light up.
“I love you.
Seriously, Ethan, marry her now,” he says, happily grabbing for the food.
He nods up to the police officer.
“This is Officer Avery.”
My eyes immediately look up.
Of all the officers they could send, they sent him, Josh’s best friend of more than fifteen years.
He runs a hand through his ginger hair, smashing its style down as his cold, granite gray eyes dig into me
“Well, well, well,” he taunts.
“If it isn’t Sammy Wentworth.”
His voice makes my heart pound, and I suddenly feel one of them reach for me.
I stumble back and realize I’ve gone right into Aaron, who passes me to Ethan gingerly
“I should have known you would be in on this.”
My mouth drops.
“I didn’t.” I stop.
“I didn’t kill Josh.”
I see James’ eyes change quickly as the silvery-gray seems to light up and pass looks to each of his brothers
“How exactly did you meet this pack, Sam?” he shoots
“Jeb, I…I…” I stammer, fighting for words that are on the tip of my tongue
I hear Ian laugh.
His laughter saves me as my body releases its tension.
“Who in the hell names their kid Jeb?” Ian hoots
Jeb’s eyes flicker over with a madness I can’t quite recognize as he grabs for my wrist and begins pulling me forward.
“I need to talk to you alone.”
I feel my heart race as I lunge forward.
Before I can move, Aaron steps forward and grabs Jeb’s wrist.
“You’ll let her go,” Aaron says with a deep voice that reminds me of the night in the cabin
“It’s okay, Aaron,” I say.
“I know him.”
He shakes his head as I now notice Eli has a firm grip on Ethan
“Like hell it’s okay,” Aaron says.
“You’re pregnant with my nephew, and I’ll be damned if I let some Jeb have his hands all over you.”
“Jeb.” I hear Ian laugh like a lunatic as Colt gives him a hard elbow to the ribs
“Aaron,” Colt says, “we’re not here to start anything.”
Jeb finally releases me and looks me over.
“You’re pregnant?”
I fight to find the right words.
I can barely move as Aaron gives me another gentle shove to Ethan.
My heart begins to pound as I release another breath.
For some reason I never saw any of this coming.
James was shot, Josh is dead, and of course the police would need to investigate.
How could I have been too big of a mess to even think about this part? And of course they would send Jeb.
Jeb was considered Josh’s best friend.
They had known one another for years.
Josh’s parents doted on Jeb and loved him even more since he was in the line of “criminal justice,” as they always called it.
Now here I am, pregnant, mixed up with a bunch of men I hardly know, and face-to-face with Josh’s best friend who will have a million and one different questions.
He will believe we did this on purpose; he will blame us for Josh’s death even though it was self-defense.
Jeb’s
eyes narrow in on me, completely cold as he scoffs at me.
I take a step back, fearful he may do something terrible.
I feel Ethan’s hand on the small of my back, and his touch seems to relax me if only for a brief moment
“By Josh,” he says
Ethan flies forward.
“Like hell!”
Jeb laughs.
“You mean to tell me that it’s yours?”
Ethan nods.
“Yeah, he is mine.”
Jeb suddenly points at both Ethan and I.
“You two are coming with me.”
“Where?” Ethan growls
“The police station.
A man is dead; my best friend is dead, and you two were right in the middle!” he yells
Ethan looks at me as though the final puzzle piece just fell into place
“You’ll follow right behind me,” Jeb says
Ethan gives him a nod as the full realization of going to jail settles over me.
I suddenly feel ill.
Dizziness swarms my head.
All we can do is obey as we both head for the door, Aaron and Ian in tow
I watch Red carefully as she covers her face with her hands.
Unsure of what to do, I reach over and place a hand on her leg.
She doesn’t flinch; her eyes only meet mine.
She’s more than upset, Jeb has clearly shook her to her core
I take a moment to work through everything that happened that afternoon.
Josh had the gun in his hand.
James was holding tightly to his wrist to aim the gun in another direction.
It fired once, that was the shot that got James in his shoulder.
The second time was the shot that killed Josh.
Josh had the gun.
James must have turned his wrist the right way, and Josh pulled the trigger on himself.
They could easily check the small pistol for finger prints and it would only have Josh’s.
“How did Josh know that guy?” I ask finally, trying to piece together what we’re really up against
“He’s older than Josh, but Josh went to school with his younger brother or something.
Since Josh’s parents are a judge and lawyer and Jeb wanted to be a cop, he and Josh just hit it off.” Her eyes grow wide as she realizes what she just said
I glance back at Aaron whose eyes are as wide as Red’s.
His parents are a judge and a lawyer.
I let out a breath that I have been holding and shake my head as I have clearly startled her.
Little Red Page 11
