by Croft, Nina
“Good point.”
She unbuttoned her shirt, then hesitated, glancing back the way they had come. “Are we safe here?”
“None of the others would dare bother me, not after tonight. You’ll always be safe with me.”
Yeah. He was the biggest, baddest wolf around, and he was hers. She kicked off her shoes and dragged her jeans down over her hips to stand before him naked. The expression in his eyes scorched her as he slowly stripped off his own jeans. He was already huge and hard and the muscles in her belly clenched tight.
Without another word, he pushed her back against the tree trunk behind her. The rough bark scraped her skin as his body pressed into hers, the hardness of his erection nudging her belly. His hands shifted to her ass, and he lifted her until her shoulders pressed up against the tree. She leaned back for balance as Daniel held her poised, his cock pushing insistently at the entrance to her body.
“I need you,” he ground out, almost against his will and then shoved into her with one hard thrust, filling her completely.
For a minute, he stood immobile, his forehead pressed against her shoulder, and she breathed in the scent of him, blood, sweat, and musk. His tension was clear in the labored breaths, the thud of his heartbeat as he fought for control. But she didn’t want him in control—she wanted him wild and fierce. Her hips shifted restlessly against him, and everything tightened low down in her body, her inner muscles contracting around him, so he groaned against her skin.
He raised his head slowly, staring down into her face, and his nostrils flared. His eyes glowed feral, holding her mesmerized, as at last he moved. Fingers dug into the flesh of her bottom, holding her in place as he pulled out, then thrust back with a roll of his powerful hips. Closing her eyes, Lissa wrapped her legs around his waist, her hands gripping tight on to his shoulders. She gave herself up to the feeling as he deepened his movement, grinding his powerful body against hers.
She could sense the pent-up urgency as he sped up until he was slamming into her, harder and faster. Each stroke pressing against her so the pleasure built and built and the world ceased to exist except for his big, hard body. Lissa opened her eyes as her climax built, wanting to see him come. The pleasure amplified until it was almost unbearable, and finally she exploded, throwing back her head and screaming into the night. As he spilled himself inside her, his head went back, and his voice joined hers. He was still moving as though he couldn’t bear to stop, and she leaned forward, tangled her hands into his hair, brought his face to hers, and kissed him.
At last, his body went still, and he fell to his knees with Lissa clasped in his arms. He rolled as he fell, so he hit the ground beneath her, and she ended up on top, straddling his hips.
Lowering her head so it rested against his chest, she closed her eyes, concentrated on her breathing and the sound of his heartbeats as they gradually returned to normal.
When she raised her head, Daniel’s eyes were closed, his mouth relaxed, and she could tell nothing from his expression. There was a wicked wound in his shoulder where Ethan had taken that first bite, but the bleeding had stopped. She leaned forward and kissed it. Still he didn’t move, and she peered at him suspiciously.
“Are you asleep?” she asked.
“No,” he murmured. “Just recovering.”
From what? The fight or from making love? Probably both. She had no idea if he regretted killing Ethan or was relieved it was over.
But it wasn’t over. It was only beginning.
From what she understood, Daniel was now pack leader. He had killed the old Alpha so the job was his. And Daniel would make a great leader.
She’d wanted an ordinary guy but ended up with an Alpha werewolf and the leader of the pack. Talk about the best-laid plans… Even so, she wouldn’t change him for anything. Something occurred to her. “Will Julia be all right?”
His brows drew together, his lips turning down. “It depends how you define all right. Ethan scratched her with a wolf’s claw—she’s going to change.”
“Oh my God. Julia a wolf?”
“Yeah, scary thought. But she’s strong and I’m certain there’s wolf inside her. I’ve sensed it. She’ll survive.”
And Daniel would be there for her. Lissa stroked the hard lines of his face, over his cheekbones to the shadowed hollows beneath, trailed them over the sensuous lower lip, delving inside as his mouth opened for her, loving the feel of his hot tongue lapping at her fingertips.
He gazed up at her, his eyes like deep pools in the dim, shadowy light. They were peaceful, and some of the tension drained out of her.
“You recovered now?” she asked.
He smiled and nodded. Raising his hands to her waist, he held her as he turned them both so she lay beneath him. Then he leaned down and kissed her, and she opened her mouth to the slow, erotic assault of his tongue.
Slipping one hand between them, he massaged his palm against her sex as his mouth slid from hers to her cheek, then down to nuzzle her throat, and lower. He took one swollen nipple into his mouth and suckled hard, sending darts of pleasure through her body to ignite a fire low in her belly. Then he bit down and her sex flooded with heat. And all the time, his clever fingers played with her, dipping inside, then stroking lightly over her swollen nub until she was writhing against him.
At last, he sheathed himself inside her. Still sensitive, her muscles clenched around him, and he groaned low in his throat.
This time their lovemaking was languid and sweet. With each thrust, he rotated his hips in slow teasing circles so the pressure mounted higher, concentrating on that one small point between her thighs. He tensed as her inner muscles clamped tight, and they came together in a fiery burst of pleasure that left Lissa limp and boneless. Finally, Daniel collapsed on top of her, then rolled them both so they lay, arms and legs entwined, on the forest floor.
…
Daniel didn’t want to think, and he definitely didn’t want to move. Lissa’s legs wrapped tightly around his waist while her arms wound about his neck, her face burrowed against his throat. Her short hair tickled his nose, and he breathed in her scent, like wild flowers.
He’d needed her as an affirmation of life. Because Ethan was dead. And Daniel had killed him. But whatever he was experiencing now, it wasn’t guilt. Ethan had deserved to die, had needed to die.
Lissa shifted beside him. She loosened her grip on his neck and inched away, resting her chin on her hand and staring into his face.
“I can almost hear your brain working,” she said.
He frowned. “Ethan is dead, and I thought I would feel nothing, but—”
“It’s shock. And I’m glad you’re feeling it. You should be shocked when you kill someone, even if they are evil.”
“And what about me. Am I evil?”
“No!” she said, so emphatically that he smiled. But maybe she was right. While he could still sense the buzz of power that had rocked his system when he’d injected the drug, apart from that, he didn’t feel inherently changed.
He pulled himself free of her and rose to his feet, holding out a hand to her. “We need to go back.”
She frowned. “Why?” she asked. “Why can’t we go home?”
“The pack must swear their loyalty to me. Until I have their oaths they’re leaderless and according to Joe, a leaderless pack is not a good thing.” He had so much to learn.
Lissa took his hand and allowed him to pull her to her feet. He watched as she found her clothes scattered around them, and dragged them on, slipping her feet into her shoes. Daniel pulled on his jeans and they walked together in silence, hand in hand until they were close to the clearing when Lissa turned to him.
“So what happens at this swearing thing?”
One more of the things he didn’t know. “No idea. I’ve never been to one before. Neither, has anyone else in the pack. Ethan murdered everyone who existed before he became Alpha.”
“So what do we do?”
“They must swear an oath to t
he new leader. Anyone who doesn’t want to has the right to demand combat.”
“You have to fight?”
“Or I can let my second fight in my stead—Joe’s my second.” He tugged her so she turned to face him. “Or my mate can fight for me.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Your mate?”
“That would be you. I hope.” He held himself still as he waited for her answer.
Lissa, stroked a hand down over his hair, then stood up on tiptoes and kissed him quickly. “I’ll be your mate. If you’ll be my husband.”
“I will,” he said, and inside his wolf howled in agreement.
Epilogue
So what did you get a billionaire werewolf for his thirtieth birthday?
Melissa tightened her black, slinky robe and tweaked the big red bow at her throat. For a minute, she hesitated at the door, then took a deep breath and pushed it open.
Across the room, Daniel lay awake, his silver eyes gleaming in the dim light. He came up on his elbows. “Have you bought me my present?”
“Oh yeah.” From behind her back, she whipped out a big juicy bone, tied with a ribbon.
“Ha-ha.”
She grinned. “You don’t like my present? I got it fresh from the butcher’s. No? How about this instead?”
After untying the belt, she let the robe slip to the floor to reveal the black lace underwear beneath and heard the hiss of his indrawn breath. She glided toward him, tripped over her heels, and swore.
“Some things never change,” he murmured.
Lissa kicked off the shoes, ran the last few feet to the bed, hurled herself on top of him, and smothered his face with kisses. He didn’t fight back, and she snuggled into the curve of his shoulder. After a minute, she raised herself up to look at him.
“Your sisters are worried about you.”
His eyes widened. “Why?” Lissa could hear the instinctive fear in the words, feel the stiffening of his muscles.
Hah—she’d known that would get a reaction. “Probably because you’re a werewolf. But don’t worry, you have me to protect you now.”
He relaxed against her. “Don’t do that.”
Ten days had passed since he’d killed Ethan and taken over the pack. Most of the wolves had accepted his leadership, though apparently a few had disappeared. According to Daniel, Ethan’s leadership had left a lot of scores to be settled. But the time had been busy, and when Daniel wasn’t dealing with pack problems, he disappeared into his lab. Lissa didn’t care—he was happy, even if he wasn’t perfect. And the nights were hers, as well as the next two weeks.
They were getting married in the morning; neither of them wanted to wait. Jason was giving her away. Julia was pulling herself out of her preoccupation with her incipient furriness to act as her bridesmaid, complete with a pink dress. And the whole pack was going to be present. It was like some huge family, which made her feel all warm and fuzzy.
Afterward they were going on honeymoon, two whole weeks alone, returning in time for the next full moon, so Daniel could help his sister through her first change. Lissa prayed it would go well. For Julia, but also for herself.
Daniel was urging her to let him change her as well, so she would be safe from harm and from illness and she wouldn’t age. But there was something she wanted first. Werewolves couldn’t carry babies to full term; they shifted at full moon and invariably miscarried. And Lissa wanted babies. So they were trying their hardest, which was fun.
Daniel rolled her over so she was beneath him, cupping her face in his palms. “So now do you believe in fairy tales?” he asked.
“It would be hard not to, but I still think I make a lousy princess.”
“You’re a perfect princess. You’re my princess.” He tugged her toward him. “So what happens next?”
She leaned up and kissed his mouth. “And then they lived happily ever after, of course.”
Acknowledgements
Once again to my fabulous editors at Entangled Publishing, Liz Pelletier, and Robin Haseltine, for all their wonderful comments and edits. To all the great women at Passionate Critters for reading my stories and letting me know what they really think. And finally, to Rob, who puts up with me, and encourages me, and doesn’t get too fed up with me being in my imaginary worlds and filling the house with vampires and werewolves.
About the Author
Nina Croft grew up in the north of England. After training as an accountant, she spent four years working as a volunteer in Zambia, which left her with a love of the sun and a dislike of nine-to-five work. She then spent a number of years mixing travel (whenever possible) with work (whenever necessary) but has now settled down to a life of writing and picking almonds on a remote farm in the mountains of southern Spain.
Nina writes all types of romance, often mixed with elements of the paranormal and science fiction.
Visit her here: www.ninacroft.com
And if you’d like to learn about new releases sign up for Nina’s newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/rZ5rz
More from Nina Croft...
The Descartes Legacy
Chapter One
Darkness had fallen by the time Luke arrived at the outskirts of the village, fifty miles north of London. He drove slowly through the quiet streets until he spotted the black SUV parked in the shadows between streetlights on the edge of the road.
Pulling up behind, he got out of his own vehicle and slipped into the passenger seat of the car ahead.
Callum tapped his earpiece to show he was listening to someone and glanced up. “You look like shit.”
“Thanks.” Truth was—he felt like shit. He rubbed his eyes, gritty from lack of sleep. “Tell me what we have.”
“Our friend Carson has surfaced at last. He’s been tailing someone, but I’ve got to say, it doesn’t make a lot of sense.”
“Who’s the subject?”
“A Dr. David Griffiths?”
“Never heard of him.” Luke thought for a moment. “A doctor? Could he be a scientist? Maybe they need him for something.”
“Unlikely. He’s a medical doctor—a GP. I’ve had Stefan do a quick background check, and there’s nothing to suggest any involvement. The guy’s a nobody.”
Luke rested his head against the seat and stared out into the night. “No. There has to be a connection. We’re just not seeing it.” Frustration clawed at his guts. Every instinct told him he was on to something, but things weren’t adding up. “Where are they now?”
“In there. It’s the doctor’s office.” Callum nodded toward a building opposite. It stood back from the road with a parking area in front containing a single vehicle. Lights shone from the front windows. “Carson’s questioning him. So far it’s been softly-softly, but I have an idea Carson’s about to up the game.”
“What’s he asking?”
“Apparently, the doctor has been doing some searches on things he shouldn’t be.”
“Such as?”
Callum turned to him with a grin. “Descartes? Does that cheer you up?”
Oh yeah. The muscles in his belly clenched tight. Maybe they were on to something, after all. “Do you have a comm unit for me?”
Callum handed him one, and Luke placed it in his ear. A man’s voice.
“Sit down.”
“Look, I don’t know who you are, but I suggest you leave before I call the police.”
The sounds of a scuffle came down the earpiece.
“Now, tell me about Descartes.”
“I told you—I don’t know anything about any Descartes.”
A dull thud followed and the doctor’s next words were panicked.
“It’s a place…on the moon… I don’t know what else it means.”
There was a moment’s silence and then a shrill scream.
“Shit.” Luke reached for the door handle, but Callum halted him with a hand on his arm.
“Where are you going?”
“To stop this.”
“Luke, think. This doctor is one m
an. We’re trying to stop an attack that could kill thousands, maybe more, and he’s our only lead.”
Now available from Entangled Publishing: http://www.entangledpublishing.com/the-descartes-legacy/
…
Break Out
A Blood Hunter Novel: Book One
Rico hurled himself behind the huge trunk of a tree and stood, back pressed against the rough bark as the missiles whizzed past.
An arrow thwacked into the wood behind him, and every muscle in his body tensed. He reached gingerly around and snapped it off. In the dim light, he held the shaft to his face and cursed loudly—wooden arrows. It was almost as though they were expecting him.
“Goddamn heathen peasants.” He might as well be back in the Dark Ages.
In the distance, a pack of hounds bayed for blood. His blood. But they weren’t getting it.
He braced himself and peered around the trunk through the thick stand of trees, and spotted the crimson glow of a hundred torches not too far in the distance. Breathing in, he caught the oily scent of burning pitch.
A triumphant roar filled the air. The hounds must have picked up his scent.
Rico cursed and darted off again, weaving through the dense forest with blurring speed. He could outrun the mob and the hounds, but it was a damn poor way to end an evening.
When the sound of voices faded behind him, he slowed down and finally came to a halt. Time to get the hell out of there. Leaning against a tree, he switched on his comm unit.
“What is it?” Tannis sounded irritated, and Rico frowned.
“I need picking up.”
“It will have to be later—I’m busy.”
He cocked his head to one side, listening for the sound of the mob, judging its distance. His pursuers would be on him soon. Tannis had better get unbusy and fast.
“Tannis, stop whatever it is you’re doing, bring my goddamn spaceship, and pick me up.”
She was silent for a moment. “I’ll think about it.”
The line went dead. He stared at the comm receiver on his wrist. She’d cut him off. Gritting his teeth, he imagined the pleasure of tossing her mutant body out of the ship’s airlock. Only first, he had to get back to the ship. He pressed his finger down until he heard the line open.
