by Ines Johnson
It was the kiss that broke her, not the heat building at her core.
The now familiar thickness of his manhood slipped easily inside of her. The tip of his cock stole past her entrance without knocking, like it had the key. Like she’d left the door wide open for him.
But she hadn’t. There was no room for him inside of her. Rhetta meant to push him away. Instead, she dug her heels into his ass.
“We’ll fight and argue,” he said as he pumped into her. “We’ll have differences of opinion.” He withdrew and plunged into her again. “But there is one thing that will remain.” He ground his hips into her, pushing deeper than her body should have allowed him to go. “And that one thing is my total and utter devotion to doing what’s best for you and your happiness.”
Rory pulled all the way out of her. Rhetta squeezed her thighs to keep him near, but his hips and his will were stronger than hers. He left her only for a split second, but the emptiness devastated her.
When he plunged back in, her body spasmed around his. Her fingers dug into his hair. Her teeth gnashed into his lower lip. Her intimate walls grasped and clutched and clung to him as he plunged even deeper, not letting him fully retreat again.
Rory held still, waiting until he had her attention before he went on. “My brother will not make you happy. You’d chew him up and spit him out in a matter of months, if not sooner. If you take a bite out of me, I’ll bite you back. And you’ll like it. You’ll come back for more because you and I both know you’ve met your match.”
He’d been holding still inside her, but Rhetta realized he was still hard and thick at the center of her still-trembling core. Rory shifted his hips. He set a brutal pace until she reached her climax again.
And then again.
Chapter Ten
It took Rory long minutes to come down from the high of releasing his soul into Rhetta. His bum foot protested the additional weight. Rory ignored its complaint as Rhetta shivered in his arms. He couldn’t tell if her trembling was an aftershock of their coming together or if it was because she was exposed to the elements.
There was a draft coming into the barn. And so Rory did the gentlemanly thing. He pressed himself against her, nestling deeper into her thighs to keep her warm. His dick was still semi-hard and hungry.
His canines found his spot on her neck. He first licked and then nipped at it, redefining his claim to her. Anyone who saw her would know that she was his.
She was worried about his ex? It had been the first day he hadn’t thought constantly about Rosalind and her rejection. The pain that had been the hollow of his heart was now filled with nothing but Rhetta.
Rory wasn’t good with flowery words. He was a man of action, a hunter. He’d slay some large beast, gut it, fillet it and lay it on the dining room table for her. Surely, that would show Rhetta that she was the center of his world now and would be for the rest of his days.
There was a scratch at the door. Rory’s wolf sprang to the surface and growled, low and menacing. Rory barely got hold of its leash as a feminine voice called out.
“Hey,” said the woman. “I’m waving the white flag out here.”
Rory recognized the voice as Rhetta’s sister. Apparently, they were twins, but they looked nothing alike to him. The other woman, Viviane, stayed on the other side of the closed door as she continued her interruption.
“Rhetta, there’s a phone call for you.”
“She’s busy,” growled Rory.
It wasn’t a lie. She was very busy. She had a two-hundred twenty-pound man between her thighs and a barely tamed wolf breathing down her neck. Rory flashed his teeth as Rhetta blinked hard. Her gaze slowly sharpening its focus as she began regaining consciousness from her orgasmic haze.
“It’s Jordan,” called Viviane.
Rory felt Rhetta gasp. Her head fell forward as she looked down at their joined hips. She groaned, slamming the back of her head against the wall.
“That would feel so much better with me thrusting my hips into you,” Rory purred as he nipped at her chin. “Do you want me to take you hard? Make you squeal like a pig?”
Her eyes, which had been wide and aimed at the roof of the barn, narrowed into tiny slits as she glared at him. “Did you just call me a pig?”
“It was a joke.”
But Rhetta wasn’t laughing. He realized he had yet to hear her laugh. It hadn’t been a top priority for him. Making her squeal with delight had been his main goal.
“Let me go.” Rhetta scrambled to get out of Rory’s hold, which was absolute.
All her movements served to do was to excite him even more. He grew firm against her squirming core, and he pressed the head of his dick farther into her. She stopped struggling and glared at him.
“It’s not funny,” she said. “This is my life you’re screwing with.”
Rory’s lips kicked up, preparing another smart comment, but his hellcat’s look of outrage stopped him.
“Don’t you dare,” she said. “I will clock you in the face again.”
The comment caught Rory off guard. He reared his head back and laughed. As he did, his hold loosened and Rhetta broke free. She straightened her clothing and dashed out the barn door before he had his pants pulled up. His wolf licked its chops preparing for another chase.
Rory made it inside the house as Rhetta was placing the phone receiver to her ear. Her family sat around the dining table finishing off the last of the roast. Every eye was on him with a knowing glint as to what they’d been doing in the barn.
Rory took a moment to re-zip and buckle up his pants. He gave them all a nonchalant shrug telling them he was completely unashamed. If they didn’t understand before, they understood now. Rhetta was his.
“Jordan?” Rhetta said into the receiver. “I’ve been trying to get a hold of you.”
Rory stalked over to the phone. Rhetta held out her hand and glared at him. He ignored her.
“Yes, I did see your brother,” said Rhetta.
Rory leaned into her other ear. “Tell him I said hi.”
Rhetta shoved her hand over Rory’s mouth. “No, I’m sorry, Jordan. I tried to talk some sense into him, but he doesn’t forgive you. He said he won’t come to our wedding.”
Rory licked the palm of her hand. When she went to pull it away he latched on to it, wrapping all five of his fingers around her palm and kissing the inside of her wrist.
“He’s delusional and an animal, and I don’t want him at my wedding,” she said. “You’ll just have to tell your mother he’s not coming.”
Rory chuckled, pressing his lips into her racing pulse at the underside of her wrist. The only wedding that would be happening would be between him and Rhetta, and Jordan would not be welcome. Beneath his tongue, Rory felt Rhetta’s pulse race even faster.
“What do you mean you haven’t told her yet?” Rhetta’s eyes blazed. She turned her body away from Rory as though she could block him from this conversation. Her shoulders went rigid and her free hand, the one that had been in his mouth, went on her hip. “You need to tell her that we’re getting married, Jordan. She’s far too much in control of your life, and I won’t have that. I’m supposed to be the most important person to you.”
Rory slipped his arm around her body and pressed her bottom back into his groin. He bent his head and licked the back of her neck. “If it were me, I’d tell my mother you’re mine and not care what she thought.”
Rhetta swatted at him, but not before she shivered. “You’ll tell her today … Yes, I told my family. They’re thrilled.”
Both Rhetta and Rory looked over their shoulders at her family. The roast had been devoured and they were all staring rapt at the entertainment. They looked thrilled, but Rory was willing to bet it had nothing to do with her joke of an engagement.
Still, Rhetta remained defiant. “So, I’ll see you in a couple of days? Good, I can’t wait. Goodbye, Jordan.” She clicked off and hung up the phone.
“What?” said Rory. “No ‘I love y
ous’?”
“We’re not a bunch of teenagers.”
“When you marry me, I’ll shout it in the streets every day.”
Rhetta grit her teeth as she turned in his hold to face him. “I already told you, I’m not marrying you.”
“We all know that you are, lamb chop.”
“No, I’m not.” She shoved him hard, but he didn’t budge. “When a wolf finds his mate, it’s forever. If she rejects him, it doesn’t change the way he feels. Jordan is only half wolf. He doesn’t have those mating inclinations. You still love someone else. I don’t want to be anyone’s second choice again.”
Rory let her go. When he did, instead of bolting away from him, Rhetta reached behind her for the wall. Her nails dug into the wood paneling as though she needed it to hold her up now that he wasn’t holding onto her.
“You make excellent points, Rhetta. I am one-hundred percent wolf. Life with me will be crazy and unpredictable. Full of passion and wild sex and love bites. But understand this, you are second to no one.”
Rhetta’s gaze searched his. He watched as her throat worked as though swallowing down one set of words and making room for something unpalatable.
“I’ve made my decision,” she said. “I choose Jordan.”
Rory reached out toward her temple. Rhetta inhaled, as though bracing herself. Rory took the end of one of her curls between his thumb and forefinger. “Are you sure?”
Rhetta let out a shaky breath. Instead of forcing any more words, she nodded her head. It was a barely perceptible bob.
Rory nodded. “I’ll respect your wishes then.”
Rhetta’s gaze widened. He didn’t miss the fear and uncertainty that tinged the corners. She swallowed again. Her teeth chewed on her lower lip.
“I do have one condition,” Rory amended, letting go of the tendril of hair. “One date. With me. Just one night. After which, if you still feel the same need to ruin your life with my brother, I’ll never pursue you again. I’ll forgive Jordan. I’ll come to the wedding and bring a gift. I’ll stand by him and behave like a good, little dog. If you can convince me in one night that this is what will make you happy, then I’ll subvert my own will to give your heart’s desire to you.”
“How can I trust you to keep your word?” she said.
“I never lie. And if I did, I’m sure your mother would have my balls.”
“I would,” said Gloria from her place at the head of the table.
“Okay, then,” said Rhetta. Her voice was still a bit shaky, but her words weren’t forced. “If that’s what it’ll take to get rid of you.”
“Tomorrow night,” said Rory.
“What are we going to do?”
“It’ll be a surprise.”
“But I’ll need to know what to wear.”
Rory looked at her body. His suggestion would be for her to not wear anything at all. But he had to make at least a pretense of playing fair. “Wear whatever makes you happy.”
He figured he’d be pressing his luck if he stole a kiss. But he did it anyway. Rhetta put her hand up a second too late to push him away. By then he’d already swiped his tongue over her up-tilted lips.
He grinned down at her. She turned her head away from him with a clenched jaw. Rory turned to say his goodbyes to her family who all waved good-naturedly at him and wished him a good evening.
As he rounded the table, his foot sickled. Without his cane, he stumbled and had to grab out for a chair.
Rhetta was by his side in an instant. Her face was the picture of concern. Part of him wanted to use it to his advantage, but he didn’t want her pity. He stood and stepped out of her embrace.
“Looks like I’ve done more than enough chasing for the day,” he said. He stepped carefully toward the door. He took his time, but he didn’t stumble again. He maintained his dignity and walked out of the house on his own accord.
Chapter Eleven
“I thought we were getting you maternity clothes.” Rhetta stepped out of the car and followed her sister as she waddled into the posh clothing boutique.
Viviane had always been stylish. It didn’t surprise Rhetta in the least that her sister would reject the idea of wearing oversized T-shirts and extra-large dresses during her pregnancy. Viviane thought muumuus were for cows. Rhetta didn’t even think her sister owned a pair of sweatpants. Viviane was the type of woman who would have her underwear tailored if she could.
But the store they pulled into was not a maternity shop. It was a high-end boutique for women. It was also on the same block as Rory’s butcher shop. It was lunchtime, and Rhetta could see the line of women in heels, dressed in power suits and designer jeans, in full makeup curl around the block waiting to get a piece of meat.
“I didn’t say maternity,” said Viviane. “I said we need to get some new clothes. I also didn’t say they were for me.”
Viviane was the more social sister. When they were young, she’d often mislead Rhetta, thinking they were headed to the pet store where Rhetta could moon over the puppies. But along the way, they’d stop for soda pop and meet up with a group of boys. Rhetta would sit in the corner, which was hard because Viviane always insisted on finding her sister and bringing her back into the conversation. And, of course, everyone followed Viviane. Everyone hung onto Viviane’s every word. But for some reason, Viviane had always thought her twin sister was fascinating. Even when the others looked down on Rhetta and ignored her.
“Viviane, what are you up to?”
Viviane flitted amongst dresses hanging on racks. All of which were too small for her rotund belly. None of which were Rhetta’s style. “I thought you could get a new outfit. You know, for your date.”
That stopped Rhetta in her tracks. She held up her index finger. “First of all, it’s not a date. It’s blackmail.”
“That’s what the kids are calling it these days?”
Rhetta raised her thumb to join her index finger. “Second of all, what’s wrong with my wardrobe?”
Viviane placed her hands on her curvy hips. Even before the baby entered her body, Viviane had had a small waist and voluptuous hips that she had no trouble showing off.
“It doesn’t show off your best assets.” Viviane looked Rhetta up and down, her eyes looking pointedly at her sister’s legs.
“I don’t want to show Rory my assets. My assets are for Jordan.”
Viviane turned her to a mirror. “But you’ve never shown Jordan your assets.”
Rhetta huffed at her sister, giving her the evil eye in their reflection. But like her mother, and Rory, Viviane didn’t cower at her glower.
“Why does everyone take to him?” she said.
Viviane looked skyward as she sought an answer. Rhetta knew she didn’t have to clarify which brother she meant.
“Rory’s very charming,” said Viviane. “And he’s handsome, and he totally adores you.”
“Am I the only one who likes Jordan?”
“I don’t dislike Jordan. I just think Rory is better for you. He’s put a spark in you.”
“Sparks start fires.”
“Or ignite passion.”
Rhetta shook her head. “You know I don’t believe in that. I don’t want that.”
Viviane’s gaze turned soft. “You loved Charles.”
Rhetta didn’t meet her sister’s eyes. “But he didn’t love me the same way and look where that got me. Love is just bad luck.”
“There’s no such thing as—”
Rhetta held up her index finger again. “Bad luck is an unfortunate state resulting from an unfavorable situation. My husband loved another woman and it wasn’t returned. I loved him and it wasn’t returned. Now he’s dead; a very unfortunate state for me. And him.”
“So, you’ll spend a passionless, loveless life? All so you don’t get hurt?”
“Exactly. It’s the only responsible thing to do. Our parents loved each other and look at where it got them.”
“Pierce and I love each other, and we’re happy.”
/>
“But you loved your professor first and look where it’s got you.”
Before she could stop herself, Rhetta indicated her head at Viviane’s belly. Though Viviane was happily mated to Pierce now, another man had fathered the child in her womb. Pierce, a reformed lone wolf, had known about the baby since the day they met. It didn’t stop either of them from falling for each other.
Viviane covered her belly with her hands protectively. “I didn’t love my professor. I thought I did, but it’s nothing like what I feel for Pierce.”
Rhetta had been pessimistic her whole life. Where Rhetta saw clouds, Viviane looked for the rainbow. When Rhetta saw a glass half empty, Viviane wouldn’t hesitate to ask for a second glass. Though they were twins, they were as different as night and day.
“I don’t need romance, Viviane. After a couple of days, flowers smell and wilt all over the place leaving you with something to clean up. Chocolates give me a toothache. Poetry sounds like puzzles to me, and I hate puzzles. I like things to be clear and in order.”
“You’re such a lovely person, Rhetta. You deserve to be loved.”
“I have enough love from my family. The other type is fickle and messy. I just want to be appreciated. Charles appreciated me, and I was content with that. He gave me everything I needed, and I was grateful that I picked him, and his life, back up. I put him back in order after his first love spurned him. He needed me. I like to be needed. Jordan needs me. And I don’t have to worry if there’s anyone else in his life.”
“Because he’s only half a wolf?”
“No, because he’s all man.”
“Same difference,” Viviane murmured. She went to protest further but then the saleswoman came over.
“Can I help–”
The saleswoman’s eyes widened at the same time as recognition donned in Rhetta’s eyes. This is why she never came into the city to buy her clothes or do any other business except seeing dogs. Rhetta turned to her sister feeling betrayed. But Viviane had the same shocked recognition on her own face.
