Alpha Knows Best (Wicked Good Witches Book 2)

by Starla Silver

  When Riley pulled away, his breath came out in a frantic push. “That was such a rush… I’ve never done anything like it before.”

  “The jump, or the kiss?” she asked breathlessly.

  He swam closer, looking like he was going to kiss her again.

  Melinda’s willpower sank, and drowned. She wanted a lot more than another kiss.

  His eyes widened in surprised delight when she reached behind her back and unclasped her bra. She wiggled out of it, and it floated away with the churning whirlpools created by the waterfall. She left no question as to what she wanted.

  Riley got her message loud and clear.

  “Your wish is my command.”

  She swam backwards; he kept pace until she slowed down, granite sweeping across the bottom of her feet. She stopped when cool granite caressed her back. The water reached her chest, hiding most of her from the shoulders down.

  Riley grabbed the top of the granite wall, drawing his body closer to hers. His lips trailed down her cheek, her neck, nibbling on her ear. It was heavenly as she thought it would be.

  “I’ve never met anyone like you, Melinda.”

  “I bet you say that to all the girls.”

  “There haven’t been that many,” he returned. “But they were just that. Girls.” The way he said the word was like describing her as the epitome of womankind.

  Heavenly puffs of white steam enclosed around them.

  His lips lowered, nuzzling the curve of her breasts.

  Her reaction pleased him. He lifted his head, finding her lips again. It wasn’t a full invasion. He seemed to be holding back. Or maybe he wasn’t, Melinda had no idea. She only knew she was falling hard. And fast. Too fast, she was certain most any sane person would say.

  Shit. Shit. Shit. A surge of doubt swept through her. What am I doing?

  He pulled away gently, almost as if he sensed her tension. He was far too perceptive.

  “I feel like I’ve known you forever, Melinda. Like we were destined to meet. Wow, sorry,” he said with a hint of disbelief. “Even to me that sounded like a lame ass pick up line.” He let out a frustrated chuckle.

  She recalled feeling the same way when she’d run into him the evening before. Like destiny had knocked on her door. “Well, since we’re being lame and cliché, you should know I don’t normally do this sort of thing. It’s so… not me.”

  “And not to meet, or beat, your cliché, but I usually do like to date, first,” he said. “If you want to stop, Melinda, we can. The truth is...” he let out a timid breath. “The truth is, from the moment I ran into you last night I haven’t stopped thinking about you. I don’t understand it exactly, but when I looked into your eyes they begged me to love you. To wrap you up in my arms and protect you. To please you in every way possible. I’ve had an urge to do just that ever since and that’s not going to change if you want to slow down.” He looked directly into her eyes to be sure there was no doubt.

  She glanced down into the water and smirked.

  “I didn’t say it would be easy to stop.”

  Riley was a stranger and yet she looked into his eyes and all doubt swept away.

  “I won’t ever do anything you don’t want me to,” he whispered, a slight tremble in his voice. “I want you to know you can trust me, Melinda. However long that takes.”

  God, could he be anything but perfect? Could he say anything that wasn’t exactly what she wanted to hear? Warning bells should have sounded in her mind, but instead, they were drowned out the pulsing of her heart. Belief in what he was saying to her even if it was naïve. Erased and replaced by a need she had to have satisfied before she lost her mind. She was done not living her life anymore. Finished wasting away the days without taking a chance. A risk… everything required risk. It was time she took one without worrying about the consequences.

  She reached in front of her and grabbed hold of Riley’s boxer shorts, pulling them down over his ass. He kicked them off, needing no further encouragement. They popped up somewhere behind him, floating away into the steamy plumes. Riley’s hands ran down her sides, eagerly sliding hers down over her hips. She wriggled out her pink panties and lost them in the swirling water. His hands wrapped around her backside, bringing her body up against his.

  Her arms slid around him.

  The hardness rubbing in between them sent a jolt of current through her.

  “I want to take you out of the water, Melinda.”

  The jolt fizzled, her breath caught.

  She didn’t answer him right away. There’d still be steam hiding them from onlookers, but there would be nothing hiding her from Riley. He’d see every part of her. There would be no way to hide anything.

  “I may have given you the impression I’m a confident person, Riley, but I’m not,” she admitted painfully. “I don’t… it’s very… exposed.”

  “Then I’ll make you see why you should be confident.”

  As if to prove the point, his thick bulge pressed into her, reminding her what she was doing to him. She let out a rushed exhale.

  “Your hot little body is driving me insane.”

  “There you go again… saying every right thing. How do you do that?” She almost felt tears welling up. Seriously? Tears? He did call me hot. Fuck the jerkwad! He can take his adorable and shove it up his ass…

  Riley shook his head. “It’s all you, Melinda. You make me say things, think things, I’ve never thought before. Never imagined saying to anyone before.”

  “Okay,” she whispered. “Take me out of…” he didn’t give her a chance to finish. He picked her up and carried her until they’d reached a granite surface he could sit her down on. Her feet dangled in the water, her legs straddling the sides of his legs.

  She was bare ass naked and out of the water. Steam rose from the heat of the sun and the watery mist hitting the granite.

  “How about a partial compromise?” he said with a naughty grin. “I’ll let you keep your toes in the water if you really want to.”

  She lifted her legs and wrapped them around him in reply. He leaned her back, moving out of the water with her, gently pulling her across the sun-warmed granite.

  He stared intently into her eyes.

  “Will you tell me if I do something wrong? Or if you don’t like it, will you tell me to stop?”

  She nodded, unable to vocalize a yes.

  “I may come across as confident as well, Melinda, but if I’m to be completely honest, I haven’t done this a lot. And when I say a lot, I mean only once… I mean one girlfriend. We dated for over a year. Broke up. Months ago. And I can’t believe I’m talking about this.” Okay, you can shut the fuck up now if you haven’t already ruined the moment.

  However, he felt Melinda melting into him. As if his admittance calmed her, was exactly what she needed to hear. He felt her lips capture his, pulling him down to her. Knowing Riley was inexperienced as she was changed everything.

  He was probably more experienced, but still, she’d expected he’d been with way more than one girl. And maybe he was lying… she didn’t care. His show of vulnerability broke down any barriers of doubt she might have had.

  His mouth turned greedy, tasting her lips, her neck; his chest rubbed against her hardened peaks firing bolts of lightning surging downward, between her thighs. Her legs opened wider, her needy mound pressing into the hard shaft separating them.

  “What you’re doing right now…” he breathed out heavily, “is so fucking hot you have no idea what it’s doing to me.”

  She’d only ever heard words like that in her dreams. No one had ever said that to her in real life before. Her hand trailed down his chest, rubbing down his silky hardness. “I can feel what it’s doing to you.” She couldn’t believe the daring of her own words.

  “God, if you keep doing that, I’m never going to make it inside of you.”

  She let go, mouths colliding, tongues tasting, devouring. His lips slid off her mouth and down her neck. Trailing to her right breast.
His tongue teased her peak.

  It wasn’t enough. Her back arched into him. “Harder. Please, Riley.”

  He groaned, happily obliging. Taking her stiff little tower in between his teeth.

  It awakened something in Melinda. A desire to act out every lust filled dream she’d ever had. Every fantasy she’d ever spent hours in the bathtub, dreaming up.

  His gaze darted up toward her face to see her reaction. He didn’t need to. He felt it, shuddering through her, into him. He let go with a gasp.

  She felt air connecting with her skin and opened her eyes to see Riley sitting up on his knees, peering down at her. His eyes hungry. Reverent. Looking at her like she was a goddess to be treasured.

  Melinda had no fear or doubt. He could see all of her, and she liked it. She wanted him to see her. To watch her. She let her gaze linger in his until she could not wait another minute longer. “I need you, inside me. Please.”

  He wanted to make her wait. To tease her. To make her beg for him… but her tone, her eyes her body begged at their full potential already.

  Riley rubbed his thick head against her entrance, preparing for entry. “Jesus,” he groaned. “You’re fucking soaked.” He wanted to bathe in it.

  Feeling him rub against her throbbing heat was more than Melinda could take. She bucked, pushing against him. “Please, Riley. I can’t wa…” He pushed inside. Then thrust deeper.

  “Oh damn,” she moaned.

  “Is it okay?” he felt the need to ask.

  It was tight. Stretched her. And ignited every nerve ending. “Yes,” she told him. “Do it again.”

  “Your wish, my command.” He withdrew slowly, letting her wetness assist his movement. At her edge, he thrust in again, this time all at once and deeply. His grip loosened from around her hips. He leaned over her, hands sliding into hers raising them over her head. Melinda found herself imprisoned against the granite and trembled at the sparks this thrill ignited.

  Lips played with each other. Moans soaked up by the waterfall splattering onto the water and granite. Riley sank into her tight flesh, dragging himself out and sinking deep inside. His body skimmed across her sensitive peaks, each touch of his skin igniting a fire that got her blood simmering.

  He pushed in deeply, pulling out and slamming into her. Faster. Harder. She moaned with each attack, her breaths growing more frantic.

  “Riley.” She gasped, a blood-tingling vibration ricocheted through her core. “I think I’m… Oh my God!” She let out a frenzied exhale.

  He freed her arms grabbing her thigh, pulling her body to meet his final thrusts.

  Her legs quivered. Her pulse soared, her skin set ablaze as her blood boiled over.

  Melinda wrapped her arms and legs around him, letting the explosion consume her.

  Riley grunted through his teeth, shooting his release with a series of uncontrollable spasms.

  Their eyes met and locked.

  Melinda had no words.

  Why couldn’t this have been her first time? This should have been it. Why couldn’t she have met Riley months ago? Why had she been so impatient and let jerkwad have her? She decided whatever he’d done to her, it did not count as sex. This was her do-over. Riley had officially taken her virginity. It was the first time she’d had an orgasm that wasn’t at her own hands.

  “I had no idea it could be like this.” Riley beamed, out of breath. “You’re so beautiful, Melinda.”

  A strange feeling grew in the pit of her stomach, drowning the perfect bliss she’d been bathed in. What was it?

  Shame? Fear? Was it too much, too fast?

  Was she feeling guilty because part of what had drawn her into a stranger’s arms, was William? And now this stranger was suddenly claiming every part of her being for his own. For a moment, she had completely forgotten they were naked in a quarry. The rest of the world washed away. All her problems and concerns just vamoose… she’d never given herself over to someone so completely. Ever.

  So why did this pit suddenly open, threatening to swallow her whole.

  “I…” she didn’t know how to express her feelings.

  Riley got to his knees, bringing her up with him. He adjusted himself so they sat facing each other.

  “What just happened?” He tapped her head gently. He wasn’t angry or harsh, but curious.

  “Far too perceptive,” she said, lowering her head. “I’m letting old issues get into my brain, that’s all.”

  “So… it was good for you too then?” he grinned confidently, already knowing her answer. But she wanted to give him the affirmation he deserved. Melinda grabbed his lips, bringing their bodies together. No shame. No guilt.

  He grabbed her and slid across the granite, leaning against a wall and tucked her onto his lap. Sun shined down, warming them. Mist and steam still hid them from view. She placed her head on his chest, running circles with her fingers across his skin.

  “You’d better be careful,” he warned.

  She chuckled, but stopped. Her breaths nervous. “Thank you.” He didn’t respond. She looked up to a confused look on his face. “For caring about what I wanted. And listening. For not just leaving me right after.” Like you were doing me some kind of huge favor… She tore her gaze away. She shouldn’t have said it. It was needy. Too serious.

  “I love knowing what you want, Melinda. It’s a big turn on actually. But why would I just leave you?”

  She shrugged. Old inhibitions returning.

  It took him a second, but he finally heard what she didn’t say. Thanks for not making me feel cheap. Thanks for not making it all about you.

  “Hey,” he picked up her chin. “Any guy who would treat you like that is a jackass who doesn’t deserve a minute of your thoughts. Especially thoughts that make you feel bad about yourself.” Which had happened, he expected. “You’re perfect, Melinda. No. Strike that. Perfect hardly cuts it. You are a queen.”

  “There you go again, saying all the right things.”

  “And there you go again making me say things I’ve never said to anyone, ever.”

  She let out a nervous exhale and rested her head against him. “Riley.” She said it so timidly she wasn’t even sure he’d heard her.

  “Yeah.”

  She raised her head to face him. “I, um…” she lost her nerve.

  “What?” he asked softly.

  She scrunched her nose, biting her lip.

  “Now you have me curious,” he said, nipping at her nose.

  Her cheeks got pink and she had to look away from him.

  “Okay, now I’m intrigued. You’re going to have to tell me.”

  “God, why is this so hard?” she let out.

  “Now, you’re just killing me. Do I have to force it out of you?” he teased.

  She sucked on her bottom lip and closed her eyes. “That was the first time a guy’s ever actually… gotten me there.” For whatever reason she was unable to utter the words, gave me an orgasm.

  Riley didn’t care what words she used. He grinned in complete delight over this fact.

  “Really? I find that very hard to believe.”

  “Believe it.”

  His grin dropped a little. “Melinda… I wasn’t your first, was I?” The thought suddenly thrilled and freaked him out. Her being a virgin hadn’t even crossed his mind as a possibility, and he hadn’t taken enough care to make sure he didn’t hurt her, if that was true.

  “Oh, um, not exactly.”

  He waited for her to explain.

  “Shit. This is super weird.”

  “I’m sorry. You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to. I was just afraid I might have hurt you.”

  “Oh. No. You didn’t. Not at all, and quite the opposite. It’s just… I really wish you had been my first. It would have been a much more pleasant memory. I’ve only slept with one other guy, one time…” she could not believe she was telling him all this. “And we might as well have actually slept. To call what we did sex, is sort of an injust
ice to the word. And I only know that now… because of you.”

  “Damn. You sure know how to stroke a guy’s ego.” His beam returned. “Maybe, considering our disastrous starts, we could just pretend our previous relationships didn’t happen? I know I’d like to forget about mine. You’re a much more pleasurable memory for me too.”

  Melinda grinned, resting her head against his chest. It was an appealing idea.

  Even if this did turn out to be a one night (or middle of the day) stand, it had been worth it. Her angst from all the William dreams was gone. Her worries and fears had flown into the wind. She wanted to wrap herself in this moment and remember how it felt, forever.

  Riley had given her everything she needed. Her eyes fluttered closed, feeling sleepy.

  He let their bodies slide down onto the granite, bringing her head onto his chest. He stroked her hair, listening to her breaths slowing as she drifted off.

  Melinda trusted him enough to open up to him, but also sleep next to him, a total stranger. What had he ever done in his life to deserve such a magnificent creature?

  He despised whoever had treated her so poorly that she thought so little of herself. He’d be contented to spend the rest of his life making sure that never happened again.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Charlie sat behind the wheel of the jeep, driving, while Michael chatted on the phone with Mack, filling the sheriff in on the shapeshifter theory. William sat like a stone in the back seat, focused, deep in thought. He was also using his enhanced hearing and sight to track any unusual sounds or movement as they wound their way through narrow roads of White Pines National Park.

  “Hey, ask Mack if she happened to see Melinda while she was out today?” Charlie told Michael. He nodded and relayed the question.

  “No. Okay. We haven’t seen her since this morning and she left her phone at home. Emily went looking for her but she just called and said she didn’t find her. We’re getting a bit worried. K, thanks, Mack. See you in a few.”

  “She seen her?”

  “Nope.”

  “So help me God if something’s happened to her…”