The Alpha

by Annie Nicholas

  Now he understood where her hostility toward Daedalus came from. The shame in her voice made him regret pushing her to confess. “Spice, I’m sorry. You don’t have to continue if you don’t want to.”

  She sighed, then drained the glass of wine. “I need to finish now that I’ve started. I was his pet, something pretty to keep around and show off and use. Once I came to my senses, I realized there were two possible outcomes to living with a vampire, eventually getting killed by him or becoming one. I didn’t like my life and hated my future, so I ran.” She reached for the bottle with a shaky hand.

  He took it and kissed her fingers. “Here’s to new beginnings.”

  The trembles stopped and she met his gaze. Light from the candle reflected off the unshed tears in her eyes.

  “I bet you’re a beautiful dancer.” He stood and came around to her chair, then offered his hand. “Show me.” They had the rest of their lifetime to get to know each other. He didn’t need to press for more info. Now, she would confide in him without worrying about judgment.

  Her face transformed as she beamed up at him and took his hand. He led her onto the dance floor and hoped he wouldn’t make a huge fool of himself.

  She twirled around him to the slow blues song and faced him with her hands on his chest. Her stiletto heels gave her more height and brought her rosebud mouth closer to his. He only had to bend at the neck and—

  With a playful glint in her eyes, she stepped back and placed his hands on her waist, then rested her hands on his shoulders.

  The waltz was the only dance he knew. It may have seemed odd with the music, but she never complained. She moved with grace in his hands, light as a feather and smooth as silk. She made a few adjustments to their steps and made it look easy and fresh.

  He could have danced with her all night, but the song ended and she stepped into his arms and whispered, “I have a present for you at home. Let’s make it an early night.”

  The instant cock salute those words produced made him a little dizzy, and he closed his eyes for a moment. He used her body as a shield as he shifted it to the side.

  Her gaze followed his hand. She grinned at him and slid past him as she brushed her fingers over the bulge in his pants.

  Mortified, he glanced at the tables but caught only a few stares. Most were envious ones. He rushed their waiter and paid the bill while she strolled by the windows, waiting for him. His beast wanted to scoop her up and have her as dessert right on the table. He needed to take a few deep, cleansing breaths and concentrate on making his beast sleep. If she meant what he hoped for, to consummate their relationship, then he didn’t want the creature to be part of tonight. The loss of his virginity was for him and Spice alone.

  Chapter 5

  Spice squirmed the whole way home. Sharing her past with Eric was like a weight lifted from her shoulders. Suddenly she didn’t feel so alone. The meal, the talk, and the dance were perfect. Now the best part of the date could begin. Just the thought made her wet with anticipation.

  Eric fumbled the keys as he tried to unlock the front door. A feral growl escaped him and made her jump. He glanced at her with alarm. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to frighten you.”

  “No problem.” She stepped closer to him and took the keys from his hands. “Just promise to save it for bed, I liked it.”

  She turned her back on him to unlock the door. The light poured out as she went inside the house. She looked over her shoulder and caught the glimpse of amber in his eyes. Weren’t they a chocolate brown?

  He blinked and stared at her. The color she remembered returned.

  The house sat quiet for once. No board game shouts from the living room or sports from Daedalus’s man-cave. Somehow everyone knew what she planned for tonight and apparently approved since they had given them some privacy.

  They hung up their coats and their eyes met. Her courage crashed. What if she overdid things in bed and freaked him out? It never worried her when they fooled around because he set limits. Tonight was no holds barred.

  He planted a soft kiss on her mouth. “It’ll be fine. I want to do this.”

  Her insecurities must have shown on her face. “That’s the problem. I don’t want it to be fine. I want to blow your mind away.”

  A large grin spread his lips. “You can blow me all you want.”

  She rolled her eyes. They’d be all right, she’d just let him have the reins. “Then follow me, baby. I want you to show me your dark secret.”

  His eyebrows shot up and his eyes widened as if she’d slapped him instead of inviting him to drop his trousers. Then it dawned on her, his secret, he hadn’t told her yet. She’d meant his cock when she spoke. Kicking herself in the ass for wrecking the moment, she pulled him down to her lips and kissed him with enough heat to make him forget his name. With an expert’s ease, she slipped her tongue inside his mouth.

  He returned her every move with as much passion.

  They shuffled to the bedroom in each other’s arms. At the door she pulled away. “Make yourself comfy. I’ll be right back.” She retreated to his bathroom and yanked off the dress. Under it she wore a matching set of black strapless bra and panties. She plumped the girls up and pulled the edges of her underwear to show a little more ass. Reaching for her heels she hesitated. He mentioned he liked them, so she left them on.

  Candle-lit shadows filled the bedroom when she returned. The blankets sat in a pile on the floor, only a white sheet and pillows remained on the bed. Her breath caught when she saw Eric. He lay on his back with arms behind his head, wearing nothing but his suntan. Light played along the lines of his muscles, making them more defined.

  Nothing would please her more than to touch and massage every inch of his long legs and torso. She’d seen her fair share of buff bodies and knew the difference between beach muscles and working muscles. This was a body of a fighter, sleek and lean, ready to snap into action. Odd, how an image of a predator came to mind when she looked at her gentle, loving boyfriend.

  “Are you going to stand there all night?” He grinned at her.

  “Let me enjoy the moment. I’ve never seen you completely naked in this kind of light before.” She strolled to the dresser and lifted the wrapped present, then brought it to the bed.

  Eric rolled to his side and leaned on an elbow to sit up. “What’s this?”

  “The present I told you about.” She sat on the edge of the mattress. Offering him the gift made her a little queasy. What if he didn’t like it? She could stand on a stage without any clothes in front of a bunch of strangers and not feel a bit insecure, but one selfless act made her squirm.

  He chuckled. “When you said you had a present for me at the house, I thought you meant…sex.”

  “That’s your present to me, silly.” She placed the gift in front of him. “Open it.”

  He did as she asked and stared at the book, then flipped the cover. “It’s signed? You met her?” He touched the signature. “Wow, this is nice of you, Spice. You didn’t have to though.”

  “I know, but I wanted to.” She ran her fingers through his thick hair. “I like making you happy.” Truth rang in her words, and she hoped he heard it. Everyone worried she’d break his heart, but no one considered how frail her own heart had become. She was about to lay her hopes and dreams on this man and if he failed her, she didn’t think she’d survive. “I love you, Eric.”

  His head snapped up from examining the book. “What?” He set the gift onto the floor, then gathered her into his arms. “Really?” The question was softly asked.

  She scooted closer to him so they sat touching, and nodded, afraid she’d say the wrong thing.

  He buried his hands into her curls and drew her mouth to his. The demand of his lips as they consumed hers ignited the fire that had dwindled down to simmering coals. She didn’t need to hear the words, he already told her with his actions.

  The firm muscles under her hands flexed as he pulled her onto his lap. His hard, full cock pressed against her
panties, and he rocked his hips.

  She dug her nails into his shoulders. At this pace, they’d both come before he entered her. With all her willpower, she shoved away from his warm embrace and sat on his thighs. “Whoa, turn down the heat.”

  “I want you.” He gripped her ass and tried to coax her back onto his cock.

  “Trust me, I can’t wait to have you too, but we don’t get a second chance at a first time.”

  The words must have reached a part of his brain not focused on entering her pussy. He stopped dragging her over his body and took a deep breath. Then a small evil smile came to his mouth. He lay on his back and placed his hands behind his head. “Please, do with me as you will then.”

  Originally, she wanted to give him the reins and let him have her as he needed, but this could be better. He’d last longer and the experience would be mutually beneficial, a moment to remember.

  Her eyes traced from his face to his chest, running along his abdomen to his thick, erect cock. It looked ready to explode. She could see it pulse with his heartbeat. If she indulged in what she wanted to do by stroking and sucking it, then it would be over. She wanted him to climax with her.

  This night was for him.

  He definitely didn’t need any more foreplay but she did. Stretching herself along his body, she pulled one of his hands from behind his head and guided it inside her panties. She entwined her fingers with his and pinched her clit as he stroked her pussy.

  The brush of his fingers at her entrance sent a shiver down her spine. He entered with a slow slide and she joined her finger with his, showing him what she needed.

  A groan came from deep inside his chest. His free hand slipped into the cup of her bra and released her breast from its confines.

  She leaned forward and offered her hard nub to his mouth. Elation electrified her as he sucked on it and sent a thrill of pleasure through her nipple. She ground on their entwined hands and pumped their fingers deeper inside.

  “You’re overdressed, Spice.” He spoke in a voice thick with desire as he removed his hands from her body and tugged on her lingerie.

  The withdrawal of his touch almost made her cry out. Her bra snapped open and slipped off her shoulders.

  His hands cupped her breasts and squeezed before flipping her onto her back with a feral growl. She squeaked with surprise, but the passionate handling only stoked her sinful desires.

  He yanked her panties down her legs and tossed them to the floor, then spread her thighs far apart as he pressed his mouth to her pussy.

  She could have sworn she heard him whisper, “Mine,” before plunging his tongue inside her, sucking with a carnivorous hunger. Writhing under the onslaught, she dug her hands into his hair and wrapped her legs over his shoulders to rest her stiletto heels on his back.

  Pressure built between her legs, she moaned and raised her hips to open them more for him. He slipped a finger inside her as he stared up her body to meet her gaze. The candlelight reflected off the deep amber of his eyes. Untamed fever burned in his stare.

  It excited her. She inhaled a shaky breath and released her hold on him.

  With an unnatural grace he crawled up her body, lifted her hips to his, and thrust his cock into her pussy. Each succinct lunge went deeper and deeper inside.

  She cried out, astounded at his fervor and loving every moment of it. Her quiet gentleman turned animal in bed. She’d died and gone to heaven.

  His breaths came in gasps and sharp little growls joined in time with his thrusts until he arched his back and drove himself as deep as he could go. The heat of his seed filled her, and she cried out with him as the pressure exploded, replaced with ecstasy.

  * * * *

  Eric lay in their bed with Spice cradled in his arms and pressed against his body. In the dead of night, he couldn’t sleep. How could he? A self-satisfied grin spread across his face. He really made her scream on their second round. She’d even left a few scratches on his back. Too bad they’d be healed by morning.

  He never told her his secret. Guilt threaded itself around his heart. First thing tomorrow, he’d confess. She did say nothing would drive her away from him. God, he hoped she really meant those words.

  He pulled her closer and buried his nose in her hair.

  The scent soothed him and his beast. She smelled like his. No other way to describe it. So much for keeping his beast under wraps, it liked Spice as much as he did. For once, they agreed on something.

  His cellphone went off. In the silence of the house, it made him jump as if struck by a cow prod.

  Spice murmured in her sleep while he untangled himself from her body.

  Scrambling in the dark, he found his trousers and answered before it woke her. “What!” He tried to whisper.

  “Get dressed, we have a problem.” With that, Daedalus hung up on him.

  Chapter 6

  “Have you told her about your being an Alpha of a werewolf pack yet? Lovers should know these kinds of things.” Daedalus shifted his black Jaguar XJ into second gear while Eric attached his seatbelt. The vehicle fit the vampire’s personality, big, sleek, and fast. Every time Eric rode in it, he realized how little he owned.

  No car and no house; his job paid well, but he didn’t have the time to make a home. If Spice stayed maybe some of it could change. He sighed. “You know I slept with Spice?”

  “Subtle is not your middle name, Alpha. You still carry her smell.” Daedalus stopped at a red light.

  “I wish you wouldn’t call me that.” He fiddled with the belt across his chest. Maybe if he started calling Daedalus “Prime,” then he’d get the point on how annoying it was to hear his title repeatedly. “I guess the other Omegas must suspect since they deserted the house. What does Sugar think?” He should stop considering his friends as the only Omegas. They needed to be one pack.

  “You haven’t spoken to her about shagging her sister?” The light turned green, and he continued toward the abandoned warehouses.

  “No, she knows I carry a torch for her twin. It feels odd confiding in her while Spice might be doing the same.”

  Daedalus laughed out loud. “So you’re going to use me instead.”

  Eric crossed his arms over his chest, the muscles made it more difficult, he still wasn’t used to them. Twenty-five years as a skin-and-bones weakling was hard to forget. “Why not? I’m worried she might be using me.”

  “For what? Sex?” His voice rose with incredulity. “Oh, wait a minute. You want her to fall in love with you?”

  “Is that so unbelievable? I know you’re not crazy about her, but she’s a great person. Someone just needs to give her a chance. She’s vulnerable right now, and she might think she loves me but really I’ll turn out to be a crutch.”

  Even though Sugar and Spice grew up in the same horrid home, it was Spice who took the brunt of the abuse to protect her little sister. The others didn’t know this, but he and Sugar did. He remembered finding Spice hiding in the apartment building’s shed one afternoon. She had a black eye and split lip. When he barged in she threatened him. Don’t you go running off and telling Sugar, you little dweeb, or I’ll pound your ass. Most would have been insulted, but he’d heard her parents yelling through the thin walls of the building and knew she’d pretended to be her twin. She’s taken that beating and others for Sugar. In an odd way, he thought of her as a hero.

  Daedalus took the corner at a sharp angle, making Eric’s seatbelt strain. “You’re a dumbass, worrying about love when we’re on our way to break up a room full of women who are competing to be your pack mate. You need to man-up and take care of your pack. Not moan about a human girl.”

  “I’m here, aren’t I? We’ll stop this nonsense tonight. I’m going to it make illegal to challenge without my permission.”

  “You can’t do that, Eric. Haven’t you read the copy of the Accords I gave you?” Silence filled the car as Daedalus sped to the on-ramp of the interstate. “Look, challenges are pertinent to werewolf packs. It sets the hi
erarchy. The strongest female should lead the pack at your side.”

  Eric looked out the window at the other cars as they passed them. No one would convince him to take a stranger as his mate. He needed to find a way out this mess. “You’re telling me to back off from Spice.”

  “I’m telling you if you fall in love, it will only end with heartbreak. Arranged marriages still exist and they work…mostly. This is almost the same thing. You can agree to have lovers if you insist on keeping the girl.”

  He shook his head before facing Daedalus. “It’s too late. She smells like mine. I can’t touch another woman.”

  “Damn it, you being a romantic drives me nuts.” Daedalus hit the steering wheel with the palm of his hand. They came up to their exit and cut across two lanes to catch it.

  “Holy crap, you’re going to have a wreck and kill me.”

  “It wouldn’t be any worse of a disaster than what you’re doing to your own life.” He made a right turn and screeched into an industrial park, then slammed on his brake and popped the shift stick into neutral. At this time of the night the place was deserted. “You inherited a sick pack, and you need to nurse them back to health.”

  Anger boiled in Eric’s gut. He undid his seatbelt so he could face the vampire-turned-asshole. “I didn’t ask for this responsibility.” Then he grabbed Daedalus by the shirt and shoved him against the car door. “I don’t care about these Ayumu mongrels.”

  “They’re Omegas now.” Daedalus’s cool, calm voice reached the reasoning part of Eric’s brain. “If she means so much to you, then make her wolf. Take her as your mate.”

  The suggestion slapped him across the face. “I’d never turn anyone on purpose.” He let go of his friend and sat back in his seat.