He hummed sympathetically. “That’s too bad.”
“What are you doing?” I leaned back in my chair and kicked my heels up onto the desk, crossing my ankles.
He chuckled. “Working very late. We’re taking a break for another forty-five minutes, but then I have to put in a conference call to Tokyo.”
“Ouch. That’s what, a seventeen-hour difference?”
“About that, yeah.” There was a short pause. “So, I was thinking we should have dinner together.”
“If we’re both working madly on opposite sides of the city, how do you—” A knock sounded on the outer office door. “Hold on a sec.”
My eyebrows arched. Was it him again? My sex clenched at the mere thought of what we’d done together the last time we were in my office. I hopped up to open the door. A courier stood there with a plastic bag from my favorite Italian place in one hand and a vase with a dozen purple roses in the other. I blinked for a moment, then flipped the lock and opened the door. “Hi.”
“Pixie Parthon?” The kid offered a bashful smile.
I nodded. “That’s me.”
“Sign here, please.”
I scrawled my name on the digital pad he held out to me, and then collected my booty. Locking the door behind the courier, I couldn’t stop the stupid smile that spread as I smelled the roses.
Malcon’s voice sounded softly in my ear. “Did you get it?”
“Yes.” A little laugh spilled out, and I carried the heavy crystal vase and food to my office. Clearing off one of the piles of paper from my credenza, I set the roses in the middle where I could see them from my desk. I couldn’t resist taking another lungful of their spicy sweet scent. “Malcon, the flowers are beautiful. Thank you.”
His voice deepened the way it did when he was pleased. “So, like I said, I think we should have dinner together.”
“You had Moretti’s delivered to you too?” The stupid grin widened with delight. This was without a doubt the most creative non-date I’d ever had. Okay, so it was the only one, but still. It was nice of him to think of this.
I heard him shift the receiver against his ear. “They make the best veal parmigiana.”
Plopping myself into my chair, I opened the bag and all the various containers inside. There was even a little bottle of Pellegrino. My stomach gave a rumble as I ripped open the packet of plastic silverware. “Mmm, I love their three-cheese ziti. How did you know?”
“The manager told me your favorites.”
“Ha! Rosa is the best.” I forked a bite of it into my mouth and moaned. “Oh man. This is so good.”
His low growl filtered through the phone, and I moaned a little louder on the next bite to torment him. He laughed. “Minx. I’m glad you like it.”
“I do.” I sipped the fizzing water. “I was going to skip dinner, so this is fabulous. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” I heard him chew a bite slowly and swallow. “So…how was your day?”
“Good. Busy.” Settling back in my chair, I spent the rest of his break chatting with him about how our work had gone.
It was…nice. I really, really liked it. Almost as much as I liked him. I groaned when I hung up the phone, dropping my forehead to my desk. God, I was in so much trouble with this man.
Chapter Five
After a quick dip in the ocean the next evening, I had to jog dripping wet through my bungalow to open my front door for Malcon. Huh. It was unusual for him not to call before he showed up. Shadows smudged under his eyes as if he hadn’t slept well. I hadn’t slept well without him last night either.
I sighed and shook my head. So. Much. Trouble.
Stepping back so he could come in, I locked the door behind him. Taking a deep breath, I said the words that were going to test this thing we had going on. “I have to tell you something that’s not going to make you happy.”
“Save it for later then.” He pulled me into his embrace, mindless of my wet bathing suit but careful not to crush my wings, to bury his face in the crook of my neck. I sighed and relaxed against him, closing my eyes. It was nice having his arms around me, comforting and secure. I wasn’t eager to have the coming confrontation, so I ran my hand down his back, turning my head to kiss his ear. His chest rumbled in a chuckle. “Thank you.”
I smiled against his temple. “You can thank me for a lot more in about fifteen minutes.”
“Honey, I’ve been better than fifteen minutes since I was fifteen.” We both chuckled, but shock made my breath catch when his mouth latched onto the bite mark he’d left on me that first night. Heat flashed from the mark straight to my sex, and I was wet and aching in moments. He plucked open the strings around my neck and ribs that held my bikini top on, baring me to the waist. He cupped my breasts, chafing my nipples roughly.
I jerked at the buttons on his shirt, unfastening the first few. “Take this thing off.”
“What, no naked magic today?” But he leaned back, grabbed the bottom of the offending garment, and ripped it over his head to toss aside. Then I had my hands all over that broad chest of his. I hummed with pleasure…the man was a tactile smorgasbord, all crisp hair, silky flesh, hard muscles, and soft, flat nipples that tightened under my fingertips. I flicked my tongue over one, just to show him I noticed his reaction. But I wasn’t in the mood for teasing. It had been far too long since he’d thrust his sex into mine, and I wanted him desperately. My fingers fumbled with his pants, jerking open the belt and zipper until I could pull his cock out. My wings whipped through the air, lifting me off the ground so I could wrap my legs around his waist.
“Tuck these in,” he whispered, running a fingertip around the curl in one of my wings. I whimpered at the throb that went through my body at even that light touch. My legs tightened around him, and I ground myself against his hard length. A rough sound burst from his throat. “Pixie.”
I actually had to concentrate on the simple act of pulling my wings in, but the moment I did, he backed me up against the nearest wall. His claws shredded my bikini bottom and he ripped it away from my body, tossing it over his shoulder. Tilting my pelvis, I made it as easy as possible for him to slide that hard cock inside me.
He plunged into my pussy, stroking hard and fast until I was screaming out an orgasm. I’d never come so fast in my life, and my sex clenched around him so many times I thought I’d die. “Malcon!”
He groaned and went rigid against me. “Jesus, Pixie.”
“You didn’t come?” I whispered, then rolled my eyes at the stupid question. Of course he hadn’t. He was harder than blue diamonds inside me.
“Not yet. I didn’t want it over too soon.” He jerked out of me, panting hard, his arms so tight around me I couldn’t breathe.
I raked my nails down his biceps. “To hell with the fifteen-minute rule.”
“That wasn’t what I was talking about.” He laughed, the head of his cock rubbing against my slick flesh. I moved with him, trying to take him inside me. He lifted me higher against the wall, shoved his hips forward, and pressed against the recess of my anus. This we hadn’t done yet. My lungs seized and I had to fight to keep my wings from bursting out the way they sometimes did when I was this sexually stimulated. I didn’t want to do anything that might make him stop, and dark pleasure insinuated itself into every muscle of my body. He pushed into my ass slowly, but his width and length made the stretch sting so bad I had to bite my lip. My nails dug into his broad shoulders. To push him away or pull him closer, I didn’t know.
“Is this okay?” he murmured.
Yes. No. I didn’t know. I clenched my teeth. Jesus, it hurt. He was huge, but it felt amazing too. “Oh my God.”
He hadn’t moved a muscle, letting my body adjust to his thick cock. “Should I stop?”
“No.” My head rolled against the wall as I shook my head. “Don’t stop.”
He didn’t pull out, just nudged himself inside me. Tiny strokes made me shudder at the sensations that went rocketing through me. One of his ha
nds braced under my thigh, hitching me even higher on the wall, changing the angle of his penetration. I moaned, a tear sliding down my cheek at the pleasurable pain. His other palm closed over my breast, brushing my nipple gently. It tightened under his touch, adding one more sensation to those swamping my system. Sweat beaded on our bodies, sealing us together. I wriggled against him, clenching my inner muscles around him. A snarling growl ripped from him and he thrust faster within me. “Pixie, you feel so damn good. You always do. I love every second with you.”
“Malcon.” Wrapping my legs tighter around his waist, I tensed my thighs to move with him. We both groaned at the additional friction. Soon he was plunging deep and hard into my ass, and agony and ecstasy blended into one unstoppable force within me. I could do nothing but close my eyes and experience it all. Malcon’s voice, Malcon’s hands, Malcon’s hot scent and Malcon’s cock stroking into my ass. God, it was so good.
My nails burrowed deeper into his shoulders, and I could feel how close I was to coming. Just a little more, just a few more thrusts, and it would all be over. My head fell against the wall, and my body bowed hard as an orgasm crashed through me. I screamed when his mouth closed over the mate mark on my neck, contractions holding me tight in their grip and each movement of his mouth sent another wave rolling through me. “Malcon, Malcon, Malcon!”
He hammered into me, all fetters letting loose as he sought his own orgasm. The look on his face was nothing short of savage, fangs exposed, eyes crystal blue. He threw back his head and howled when he came deep inside me. He collapsed against me on the wall and I held him close, rubbing a hand up and down his sweat-dampened back. I kissed the side of his neck and sighed.
Flicking my gaze to the clock on my living room wall, I smirked. “That was not more than fifteen minutes.”
He barked a laugh, wrapped me into a tight hug as he lifted us both away from the wall, but didn’t let me down. He nuzzled my neck and his bite mark, making that hot-sweet melting start in my muscles. “It’s not my fault you came so fast. Twice.”
“We need a shower and then a bed.” I arched and moaned as he sucked the mate mark, my sex fisting. “Hurry.”
He didn’t. He made love to me slowly, kissing, licking, and nipping every inch of my body until I begged for more. The man was relentless. All night long. And reminded me every time fifteen minutes went by. When he set out to make a point, he really dedicated himself to the task. I don’t think I’d ever come that many times in a single evening in my life.
It was to die for.
But the next morning, I knew I couldn’t put off the confrontation any longer. I had to get on a plane in a few hours. Sitting up in bed while he lay beside me, I propped myself against my headboard, tucked the sheet under my armpits, and folded my arms. “I have to go out of town.”
“Where to?” He didn’t so much as bat an eye, leaning on an elbow to kiss one of my crossed arms.
His lack of reaction confused me, but maybe he just hadn’t processed this yet. I braced myself, dread sinking like a lead ball in my belly. “To the New York office.”
“Okay.” He nodded, his dark eyes calm and steady when they met mine. “Give me a day, and I’ll have my assistant clear my schedule for as long as you need.”
Now I knew he didn’t get it. Sighing, I tossed aside the sheet, climbed out of bed and jerked on a robe before I turned to face him again. “Don’t be ridiculous. You’re the L.A. pack leader, so you need to be in L.A. While I’m in New York, I’m going to be working flat out. I wouldn’t be able to see you for more than a few minutes a day.”
He sat up, the sheet pooling around his waist. “Pixie—”
“I mean it, Malcon.” I wrapped my arms around myself protectively, knowing that we’d finally gotten to the part I always hated. This was why I didn’t do complicated or committed when it came to men. It never ended well for anyone. “This isn’t a vacation for me, and I’m not going to take you with me just to abandon you in a hotel room for days on end. You’d be pissed at me for ignoring you, and I’d be pissed because I told you so.”
Emotions flickered across his face so fast I couldn’t identify them. “You don’t want me with you.”
“It’s not like it’s forever. I’ll be back.” Some desperate, stupid little part of me prayed he’d understand, that he’d be different. “My work never ties me to one place.”
“I didn’t say a word about tying you to anything. I offered to come with you. And since when have I ever acted put out by your work? I have work of my own I could take with me. The pack can live without me for as long as I need it to, and, frankly, I’m an adult and I don’t need you to entertain me. This is about trust, Pixie. No matter what I say or do, you don’t trust me not to cage you. You don’t trust me. You don’t want me with you, and we’re done here.” His mouth opened as if he was going to say more, but he didn’t. Instead, he left me gaping behind him, unable to take it all in as he shoved himself out of bed, strode into my living room, picked up his scattered clothes and disappeared.
Just as I’d thought, it was over. I don’t know which shattered me more—that I’d never see him again or that it was my fault. Clamping a hand over my mouth, I refused to let myself cry and I forced myself to pack, get on a plane and leave him behind.
Chapter Six
I ached. Every moment of every day for the next month. I had to cast spells over myself to make myself sleep. Still, I never felt rested and exhaustion pulled at my very bones. My soul bled every time I thought of Malcon, and no matter how often I’d told myself it was best that I not have someone tying me down, I couldn’t make the pain subside. Whether I liked it or not, I was attached to him. Hell, if I was really honest, I’d admit I was more than attached. A few more days and my work would be done here, then I’d be back in L.A. But I knew without a doubt he would never settle for the easy arrangement we’d had before. I’d ruined that. He would want all or nothing. He would want my trust. Everything.
Could I do that? Trust that he would be what I needed him to be? I didn’t know, but I also knew I didn’t want to be without him. But what did he want? I wasn’t the easiest person in the world to deal with, and most of the time I was okay with that. But was Malcon okay with that? Did he regret our time together? Did he wish he’d resisted marking me that first night?
Lying in bed, I stared at the ceiling of my hotel room. I was trying to catch a nap before I had to go to a party tonight and pretend to have a good time. Again.
My cell phone blared a loud version of one of my brother’s songs. I rolled over and snagged it before it vibrated itself off my nightstand and onto the floor. The number on the display wasn’t one I recognized, but had a California area code. My heart leapt. Malcon. Stabbing the connect button, I pressed the phone to my ear. “Hello?”
“Hi…Pixie?” A masculine voice that wasn’t Malcon’s answered. “It’s Jerrod.”
I frowned and checked the display again. “Hey, this isn’t the Eclipse number.”
“No, I’m not at the bar. I’m on my cell.”
“Oh, okay.” I kicked the blankets aside and crawled out of bed. “What can I do for you?”
A long pause fuzzed through the line and I could almost hear him wrestling with how he wanted to say whatever he had to say. “To be honest? You can get your ass back to L.A.”
That startled a laugh out of me. “What?”
He sighed. “Look, I know you’re Fae and not a wolf, but this thing with Malcon—”
“Jerrod, I adore you, but this isn’t something you should stick your wolfy snout into.”
He made a rude noise. “That’s what Malcon said before I left his house.”
I checked my watch. It was three in the afternoon on the West Coast. And it was only Wednesday. “Why isn’t he at work? Is he sick?” My voice caught a bit as I asked it, and worry coursed through me.
“Not exactly. That’s what I’m trying to tell you.” I heard him take a breath before he launched into an explanation. “W
hen wolves are mated, they can’t go without their mate long term. A couple of days, maybe a week max. But you’ve been gone more than a month. I mean, if you die, it’s different, the connection is cut, but you’re alive. He’s still bonded to you.”
I thought about it. We hadn’t gone more than a day or two without being together the entire time I was in L.A. “I’m assuming when you say ‘can’t go without’ you’re not talking about sex.”
“No, I’m not. I’m saying Malcon is suffering on a level you obviously don’t understand because I know you’re not cruel enough to do this to anyone deliberately.”
Closing my eyes, I felt a harsh pang ricochet through me. What a horrible gamble Malcon had taken when he only gave himself a month to change my mind about mating with him. It sounded as if he was paying an even more horrible price for losing. I forced the hardest question I’d ever asked out of my throat. “Is…is he dying?”
“I don’t know.” My belly cramped tight at Jerrod’s answer. “I’ve never seen what happens if a wolf goes long enough without. Most of the time, I’d expect the wolf to track his mate down, but Malcon doesn’t want to force you.”
A breathy laugh escaped me, tears welling in my eyes. “Stubborn ass.”
“I called him worse before I left a few minutes ago.” I could all but feel the wolf’s frustration vibrating through the phone. “He’s not hearing it. I’ve never seen him like this. So, just come put him out of his misery, okay?”
Now it was my turn to sigh as I sank on the bed and dropped my face into my palms. My voice came out muffled. “It’s more complicated than that.”
“I don’t doubt that.” Jerrod didn’t bend an inch, his tone steely. “But I do doubt Malcon’s going to hold on to his sanity much longer unless you get on a plane to California and find a way to work something out between the two of you. He’s not a bad guy, and he doesn’t deserve what he’s going through.”
“This isn’t my fault.” Oh, yes it was. I hadn’t made him mark me as his mate, but I had left him behind on principle. Guilt pounded through me. Guilt and pain and misery and loneliness that was crippling. What the hell was I doing? I didn’t have to live like this. I could put both Malcon and me out of our misery if I wanted to. I could have him forever if I was willing to take a risk on him, with him. I imagined living every single moment with Malcon, and then I imagined living without him as I had for the last month, hording all my independence and sharing none of my life with anyone. No contest.
Crazy Little Thing Called Love Page 4
