Dallas had been born a butterfly.
I was so lost in my own thoughts I didn’t answer him. He dipped down on one knee, and tipped my chin up to meet his eyes. “I don’t want you to do anything you’re not comfortable with,” he said.
“I need to get comfortable with these things, or else we’ll be stuck in this weird place forever. It’s okay to be scared sometimes, right?” I had to convince myself, first.
Dallas didn’t answer. Instead he kissed me, slow and sweet. “I won’t let you fall, Lyssie.” His voice changed, deeper, much more sure of himself, like the first night he came to stay with us. I’d been so scared, and he’d soothed me. “The tub’s full.”
I shut the faucet off, and turned back to find Dallas back on his feet. I stood up. “There’s soap and a cloth and—“
Dallas grabbed my hand, pulling me against his body. Heat rolled off his skin. “I want you to do it for me.”
I gulped, frozen.
“It’s okay to be scared, Lyssie. Unzip my jeans.”
My hands trembled. We were supposed to have a conversation, the one where I explained everything. All the things I hadn’t done. But who was I kidding, Dallas knew.
I pushed the denim away, my fingers brushing against his cock on the way down. It was hard and ready inside his boxers. Dallas stepped away from fabric, and I hooked my fingers in the waistband of his shorts, pushing them down his legs. His thighs were just as powerful as the rest of him, and maybe it was the fever, but I think he was shaking, too.
Dallas stepped into the bath, moaning when the cool water covered his body. He was too big for the tub; his legs folded practically in half. But he didn’t care, his relief was obvious. I wanted to add some oatmeal in to help soothe him, but all I had was the packaged stuff with dried apples and cinnamon.
His head fell back, eyes closed. Dallas wasn’t ashamed of his body, and he had absolutely no reason to be. His arm muscles tensed as he pulled his legs in closer. I didn’t think I’d ever get tired of looking at him.
“Will you wash my hair?” He tipped his head in my direction, gaze heavy lidded. The corner of his mouth curled when I rose to my knees, capturing his long, dark hair between my hands, and led him down into the water.
I started making small circles at his hairline, my thumbs pressed against the back of his head. His eyes closed again, lips curled up in a content smile. He’d given himself completely to me, laying back in the water, his head in my hands. I didn’t plan on letting go any time soon.
I worked slowly, wondering if Dallas remembered I told him I’d gone to cosmetology school. It was CAST’s first attempt to get me acclimated in the regular world. Everything was great until I had to go on a job interview. Nope, that wasn’t happening. Now I trimmed Kiera and Trina’s hair when they needed it, and I was the shelter groomer. It wasn’t exactly the same thing, but my clients weren’t very picky. One of the things I loved about doing hair was being given the chance to take care of someone, and make them feel their absolute best. I lathered up my palms and gave Dallas one hell of a head massage.
Dallas’ mouth fell open when I ran my thumb over his eyebrow. I pulled his head back by his soapy hair, submerging his head just enough to rinse the foam away. He groaned, and I tugged harder, just to see what he’d do. “Fuck, that feels good,” he said. “Your hands are the only things keeping me sane.”
“Just my hands? What about this?” I leaned in to give him a kiss.
Dallas wrapped his arms around me, almost pulling me into the tub. The kiss mirrored what I’d just done to him. Long, slow circles and lazy strokes that sent the heat from his body spiraling through mine. He tangled his fingers in my hair, yanking on it just like I’d done to him. I cried out against his lips, and he let go of me.
I was completely soaked from the waist up. I don’t know if Dallas was feeling better, but I certainly was. This was so hot. “I’m not done yet,” I teased.
His Adam’s apple bobbed. I wasn’t the only one who was nervous. How the hell did I do that to Dallas Channing? “What else are you going to do?” he asked.
I reached over him. His eyes followed my body, my shirt stuck to me like a second skin. I grabbed the washcloth and the body wash. “I’m sorry, but you’re going to smell like strawberry kiwi.”
Dallas’ smirk took my breath away. “Is that what you taste like?”
My whole body was on fire. “Maybe.”
“Do I get to find out later?”
Holy shit. “I think so.”
He raised an eyebrow, and he looked like himself again. “Don’t take any chances. You better make sure I’m clean, Lyssie. Because the two of us are going to get filthy after this.”
Everything in my body pulsed, from my heart down to my core. I dunked the cloth into the water. I couldn’t make eye contact. Scared, excited, nervous, and that little devil was back, whispering her usual sweet nothings into my ear about how I was going to fuck this up beyond all recognition.
Shut. Up.
Dallas caught my hand, still under water. “Please don’t rush through this. I’ve been in agony all day, and the only thing that’s making my life bearable is your touch. Let me watch you explore my body. Show me what you like.”
I nodded. “Are you going to do that with me?”
That slow smile was back. “I already know what I like. But I’m sure you’ve got a few surprises for me.”
“Later. I’m taking my time. Because you, Mr. Channing, need a bath.” Pins and needs shot up my arm as I dragged the cloth slowly across his collarbones, getting acquainted with every inch of Dallas’ body. Going slow was the best suggestion he could’ve made. Otherwise I would’ve never noticed the way his muscles rippled in anticipation of my touch, or the way his lips parted when I touched a place he liked. Like the crook of his neck. The other side, not the one with the bite. I wasn’t going anywhere near that thing. I gripped the back of his neck, circling it hard with my thumb. And the noises that came out of him as I trailed the cloth down the line of his stomach made me think there was an animal prowling inside me, desperate to be freed.
Dallas stretched out, offering his body to me. His shaft escaped the water, stiff and waiting so patiently. His hips bucked as I circled the area, dragging the cloth slowly over his balls and then letting it fall from my grasp. I ran my fingers lightly over the hair that curled on the flat plane just above the part of him that made everything go wild under my skin.
Our gazes locked, and his hand covered mine. It didn’t take much for him to lift my hand and place it on his shaft. So much heat rolled off his body I couldn’t believe the water wasn’t boiling. Dallas led me from the base to the tip of his cock so slowly, making sure I felt every inch of him. His fingers laced with mine at the tip, and he moved my hand around it.
He groaned. “Just like that.”
“Oh yeah?” I tried to play it cool, but he had to be able to feel the thunder of my heartbeat pulsing through my fingertips. He moved in the same rhythm as I slid my hand back and forth, swirling around the top, then dropping back to the bottom. I loved the way he felt when I held him like this. Not just what I had in my hand, but the way his body reacted. Power flowed between our bodies, it didn’t matter where I ended and he began. His lips parted and I gasped.
“Every time you touch me, my wolf goes crazy,” he said, his words strained. “You know what? I’m scared, too. I don’t want to let you down.”
I still couldn’t believe this gorgeous, powerful man was worried about disappointing me. My knees dipped into the water as I straddled his bare body. “Impossible.”
It was time for us to move past this place, the one that was full of need and fear. We wanted each other, and it had never been clearer when my lips covered his. Dallas fell back, water splashing over the rim of the tub, waves crashing against my fully clothed body. He clawed the wet fabric on my back as we reassured each other with hot, hungry kisses, whispering with tiny nips. His stubble scraped my cheek, the sensation traveling to
the tips of my toes, and they curled inside my soaking wet socks. Dallas traced the line of my neck with his tongue, nipping the spot that throbbed for him.
I threw my head back, relieved and so disappointed that he didn’t bite me. It could’ve solved everything, or made things even messier. Dallas’ gaze fell to my wet clothes—they clung to every curve of my body like they weren’t even there.
He slid his hand under my shirt, hooking his fingers in my bra and tugging. “This has to go.” I nodded. But instead of pushing it up, or reaching around and unhooking it, Dallas grasped the lace in his hand, destroying it. The ruined remains fell away, freeing my breasts inside the wet fabric. I arched my back, giving him the chance to rip my shirt away. But Dallas didn’t do that. Instead he took his time, rubbing his thumb over the hard nub that begged to be freed.
His breath was hot, even through the fabric, and my cry echoed against the tiny bathroom’s walls when he closed his mouth over my nipple. I writhed in his lap in time to his kisses, slow and hard.
I couldn’t take it anymore. I meant to pull the shirt over my head, but the fabric tore.
“Let me finish that.” Dallas gripped either side and ripped the shirt away from me. I thought he’d drop it outside the tub. There was just as much water out there as in here now, but instead he twisted the wet cotton in his hands, a makeshift rope he looped around my neck, pulling me closer to his body.
We couldn’t stop kissing, and this time, it felt even better. My skin bare against his, Dallas’ hands everywhere. He palmed my breasts, considering their weight before squeezing them. His lips never left my skin, he moved back down my neck, his tongue connecting with my nipple. He rolled it between his lips. I gripped his shoulders hard when the vibration from his moan rocked through me.
“I’m not done,” he said, scraping his teeth against the swollen skin. His hands fell to my jeans, freeing the button and zipper, then guiding me back so he could peel the denim away from my legs. “You’re so gorgeous.” Dallas’ hungry gaze raked over my naked body as he balled my jeans between his hands, unsure what to do with them. “Why didn’t we do this sooner?”
“Maybe it wouldn’t have meant as much.” I sat up and took the jeans from him, dropping them on the floor. I cringed when the wet lump splashed on the floor. “What do we do now?”
“Can you reach my jeans?” Dallas asked. They were still dry, they’d landed on the table next to the tub. I nodded and grabbed them. “Grab my wallet. There’s a condom in there.”
The foil packet shook in my hand when I offered it to him. Dallas shook his head. “I want you to do it.”
Okay. I could do this, right? I ripped the foil, but everything fell in the water. I couldn’t meet his eyes. “I don’t know how.”
“I’ll show you.” He cupped my chin and kissed me before picking up the condom and putting it back in my hand. It was simple, really, when we did it together. I’d made it so much more complicated in my brain.
Dallas pulled me into his lap. His shaft felt so different, wrapped and ready. “Hold on to my shoulders,” he whispered before kissing me one last time. “I’ll take care of the rest.”
He grabbed hold of his shaft and positioned it at my opening. His gaze locked with mine as he came inside. I didn’t know what I’d expected, but actually having another person inside of me was...overwhelming. But in a really good way. He stretched me, moving slowly inside. It hurt, but it wasn’t pain. It was more of a sensation that I wanted to get much more familiar with.
“You okay, Lyssie?”
I nodded.
“Tell me. I know we suck with words, but I have to know exactly what you’re feeling right now. We can’t mess this up.”
He wanted to talk about this now? Words sped through my brain, tangled in sensation. All I could think about was the man inside me, our bodies becoming one. I’d trusted him with something I’d been afraid to give before. I knew all this, but I couldn’t say it out loud.
I leaned against his forehead, our lips moved in for the kiss but we couldn’t quite reach. Perfect. “Why didn’t we do this sooner?” I asked.
“Because we needed everything to fall apart so we could put it back together, our way.” Dallas moved his hips back slowly, and I never realized how empty I’d been without him. He wasn’t gone for long, sliding back up in me, deeper than I ever imagined possible. I curled my fingers against his skin, his thrusts becoming more intense, the rhythm frantic. He moved my body in time with his hips. The world was spinning off the axis, into the unknown.
I couldn’t believe I’d gone so long without this, without him. That I’d let fear hold me back from something that no one could explain to me. My vision clouded, my body burned, and I thought maybe Dallas’ Full Moon Fever actually was contagious. I knew whatever I was feeling, he was the only thing that would make me feel better. My body began to spasm around his, little explosions tripping straight up the middle of my body, spreading all over the surface. I cried out, and Dallas caught my lips in a kiss. His body swelled inside me, his pace slowed and the sound he made, I swear it was a howl. It was perfect, the marriage of wolf and man.
Dallas slid out of me, but I didn’t feel empty. Just the opposite. I didn’t think it was possible for him to pull me closer, but he did, planting butterfly kisses on my nose, cheeks, and lips.
I’d stepped out of my cocoon, and I was beautiful.
Chapter Eight
Dallas
I’d spent New Year’s Day in a fever dream, and even with Lyssie’s bare, voluptuous body covering mine, I was afraid I’d hallucinated last night. The image of her wet body, head thrown back, riding my cock played on repeat in my mind as I watched her sleep.
My cock stirred, and I pushed the curls away from her face. She looked like a fallen angel resting on my chest, but she’d look even better writhing underneath me. Eyes closed, back curling, all she was missing was wings.
Here’s the thing about Lyssie. She wasn’t shy. She shielded herself. Behind the fortress she built, a powerful woman waited to break free. Last night was a strawberry kiwi flavored taste of freedom that I hoped was the beginning of a long journey together.
“Hey.” Lyssie’s voice was scratchy, and her eyelashes beat furiously, fighting sleep. “How do you feel?”
The visions once again followed me from one trance to the other, and I’d been so lost in Lyssie I had to think about my answer. “Great.” The fever and nausea had disappeared. If Lyssie’s body cured the Full Moon Fever, I was willing to stay on that maintenance plan until the end of time.
“You look...” Lyssie’s face hovered over mine. She tried to keep in a giggle, but it slipped out and she ran her hand over my forehead. “Amazing.”
“So do you.” I pulled her down on top of me for a kiss.
“No, seriously.” The words were garbled, I still had a hold of her bottom lip. “When you came over last night, you looked like a zombie, and you were so hot.”
I raised an eyebrow. “You don’t think I’m hot anymore?”
She laughed. “I think you’re smokin’ hot. I mean you don’t have a fever. You must be starving. Can I interest you in some pancakes? I usually make them on New Year’s Day, but there was no way you would’ve wanted them yesterday.”
My stomach rumbled. Pancakes actually sounded better than sex right now. “Hell yes.”
I followed Lyssie into the kitchen, relieved to see the wet tangle of towels we used to clean up last night’s mess in the bathroom sitting in a basket on top of the washer. I may have been going crazy, but I wouldn’t fantasize about dirty laundry.
She’d thrown on a T-shirt, her legs bare and hair wild while she started the day. “Do you mind giving Fluffy his crickets?” she asked. Fluffy was the foster lizard the girls had brought home from the shelter.
“Not at all.” Fluffy had taken over the living room, his cage had been upgraded to a lizard lounge. He didn’t move—he preferred to watch his crickets drown in his water dish before eating them. I had
to admire any creature who could do that with a smile on his face.
Lyssie was busy in the kitchen. I couldn’t keep my eyes off her. The bite changed everything, for the better between us. Maybe it had been desperation, maybe we needed it. Touching her felt so good. The fever may have gone away, but the sensation didn’t.
Her body tensed when I slid my arms around her waist. She ladled batter into the skillet, sighing when I nuzzled her neck. “You’re pretty talented,” I said.
“This? It’s so easy to make.” She laughed. “Sit down, relax. I’ll burn them if you distract me.”
“You have a couple seconds before disaster breaks out.” I turned her toward me and kissed her. She resisted, at first, and I expected her to pull away in a protest about pancakes, but then she gave herself over to the kiss. Her fingers brushed against my cheeks, our gazes locked, and those pancakes were going to get burnt to shit.
“I’m glad last night...helped,” she said, turning back to the stove and flipping the pancakes.
“You were frigging amazing.” I leaned against the counter. “I might fake sick every night for the rest of my life if that’s what I have in store.”
Lyssie looked up from her work, shy again. “I like to take care of people.”
It was useless to try to stay away from her. I ran my thumb over her lip. “Who’s taking care of you, Lyssie?”
She slid pancakes onto a plate, and carried them to the table. “Do you want maple syrup?” she asked.
“Sure. And you didn’t answer my question.”
She sat down across from me and took a long sip of her coffee. “I think I’m doing a pretty good job.”
“If you’re taking applications, I’m interested in applying for the position.” The corner of my lip curled up before I took a bite of my breakfast. “This is good.”
“Thanks.” She put down her fork and sighed. “That’s not exactly what I’m looking for.”
“Then what do you want?” I asked softly. I didn’t expect an answer. “I know what I want. I want to make the look—the one when you think the ground is about the open up and swallow you—go away. I want you to feel as incredible as you make me feel. And whatever’s next for you, I want to hold your hand and watch it come over the horizon.”
Shelter Me (Sawtooth Shifters, #6) Page 4
