“All right.” Marcus grew concerned. “I’ll go search for her.”
“We’ll help,” the kids offered.
About to refuse, he saw the need in their eyes and made a quick decision. “One of you head up to her bedroom first.”
One of them raced off.
“Do you know Cade and Connor?” he asked the others.
“Yes sir,” they all replied.
“She’s not there,” the boy who’d raced up to her bedroom yelled out.
“Right, two of you head south, one of you stay here in case she comes back and two more of you search for Connor and Cade. Go!”
They ran off. Marcus ran his hand over his shaven head. Where the hell could she be? Knowing how close she was to Honey and Blair, he headed toward their cabins to ask her friends if they might know her whereabouts.
Friends. He’d been worried about her settling in. He was the one finding it hard to be accepted. And no wonder. He was being an asshole.
Because he wanted someone he couldn’t have.
Damn, he was so tired of putting the pack first. His own, then this one. Here was the wolf who would complete his soul, the woman he loved, and he’d hurt her so much she couldn’t bear to look at him.
*
“Th-thank you,” Hanna managed to say.
The large stranger frowned down at her. “You shouldn’t be out here by yourself.”
It was close to dusk and, she realized, she’d wandered quite a long way from the main house. Shit. How was she going to get back now?
“I know. I went for a walk and I lost track of time. I don’t suppose you’d go back to the main house and get one of the others for me. Maybe Cade or Connor, do you know them?”
He shook his head, moved around in front of her and squatted. Lifting her ankle, he glared at her shoes. “If you’re going to walk in the woods on two legs then you at least need to put on some proper footwear,” he scolded. He pulled off her pink slip-on sandal.
“Can you move it?” he asked, gesturing abruptly at her foot.
Hanna bit back her cry of pain as she rolled her foot around. “It’s fine.”
The man snorted. “It’s sprained. You need to change and speed up the healing. It needs ice and elevation.”
“Yes, I’m sure you’re right. Umm, who are you?”
She hadn’t met him before, but Silverton was a large pack and she hadn’t met everyone in the pack yet.
“Name’s Jesse.” He sat on the ground. Tiredness etched lines around his mouth and sad eyes.
“Are you okay?”
He looked up and a small smile crossed his lips. “I’m not the one with a sprained ankle, sitting on the ground with a stranger twice her size looming over her.”
“You’re not going to hurt me.”
Jesse stared at her seriously. “So trusting. Not everyone is one of the good guys, sweetheart.”
“I know that,” she said vehemently. “Believe me. I know how rotten others can be.”
He stared at her for a long moment. “Yes, perhaps you do. You need to change and get out of here before someone starts to worry about you.”
“No one will be worrying about me.”
“Really?” he asked skeptically. She squirmed under his continued scrutiny. “Don’t wander off this far again. And get some better footwear.”
“I didn’t mean to walk this far. I was thinking.”
“Marcus is looking for you. I can hear him call your name. Do you mean something to him?”
“Marcus? I hardly know him. I’m here with Cade and Connor.”
Those green eyes continued to watch her as though stripping away every layer. “I hate lies,” he growled. For the first time she actually felt afraid of him. “You might be able to trick others with your half-truths, but the stench of those lies is repugnant to me.” He started to turn away and she reached out, grabbing his arm.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “Please.” She strained, but couldn’t hear Marcus and she didn’t relish being out here alone.
“You care about him, I can tell from the look on your face. Marcus is one of the good guys. But he’s used to putting the pack before his own needs. He’s getting closer. Don’t worry. Your secret is safe with me. However, I want something from you in return.”
“What?”
“You have to keep quiet about seeing me. You can’t tell anyone, including Marcus. Promise me.”
“But why?”
“I have my reasons. Promise me.” He didn’t threaten her with her own secret and she somehow knew she could take him at his word.
“Okay, I promise.”
Jesse disappeared into the shadows cast by the late-afternoon sun. Soon she heard Marcus.
“Here! I’m over here,” she called out.
Less than a minute later, Marcus crashed through the bush. The worry on his face took her breath away.
“Thank god.” He dropped to his knees before her. “Are you okay? What are you doing out here? Don’t you know it’s getting dark?”
“I came out for a walk, but I fell and sprained my ankle.”
“Your ankle?” He immediately reached for her feet.
“My right one.”
Marcus grasped her foot with his hands, pressing lightly. She winced at the pain.
“Oh baby, it’s really sore, isn’t it? You need to change to help it heal.”
“I know,” she sighed.
He brushed his hand over her face. “I was worried about you. Some of the kids were waiting for you to bake them brownies. Luckily, Honey saw you wander off in this direction and I tracked your scent.”
She stared down at her lap. “You probably shouldn’t have chased after me. They’ll be wondering why you’re so concerned about me.”
“Let them wonder,” Marcus said rashly. “You are what’s important right now. God, Hanna, I’ve made a real hash of things. I am so sorry you felt rejected. You’re right. I feel the same as you do. I feel this bond between us.”
His eyes filled with regret. “I thought maybe you had run off. I’ve been such a fool. I’ve pushed you away, telling myself it was the right thing to do, that the last thing you needed was to be tied to me.
“Yet I’ve realized that nothing else matters in my life if you’re not around. I know I’ll probably smother you. I know I should give you time to grow, but I’m too damn selfish. I want you, Hanna. In my life, in my bed and I don’t give a shit about anything else. I love you.”
Her heart somersaulted at his confession. “Really?”
“God, yes. And I will prove it to you every day until you believe it.”
“I love you too. I never thought this would happen. I didn’t think I deserved you.”
He looked at her incredulously. “Not deserve me? Hell, baby, I’m the one who doesn’t deserve you.”
“Growing up, I was always told how useless I was. How no one would ever want me unless they were forced to. But that’s not true. I might not be that strong physically, but I’m strong in other ways.”
His face lit with a crooked smile. He cupped her cheeks between his palms and kissed her. “Yes, you are. You’ve been through hell, baby. But instead of hiding away from life, you’ve come out fighting with your head held high and a smile on your face. I’m so proud of you.”
His words melted her insides. Then her smile dimmed. She realized she couldn’t have everything she wanted. Not yet. “You were right the other day though,” she told him. “We can’t do this. Not now. Our timing sucks. Not because I think you’d smother me or any of that other crap.
“But I’m supposed to be with Cade and Connor. If we mate, then we’ll have to come clean and tell everyone the truth or else Cade and Connor will lose face and you and I will be treated with condemnation. I like it here, Marcus. So I’m saying you were right.”
“It seems I’m always putting the needs of others before myself,” he said with frustration. “I want you. I need you. And it’s killing me not to take you.”
“I know. I feel it too. But now isn’t the right time. Maybe once things are more settled, I don’t know. But I do know I can wait for you. You’re worth waiting for.” Except she couldn’t imagine how they could ever be together. If the pack found out they had been lying, they would never trust them again.
He kissed her once more. “You’re a hell of a woman, Hanna Edwards. And I would be so proud to have you as my mate.”
“One day,” she promised.
Chapter Nine
She raced through the forest. Energy burst through her in waves. She’d never felt this alive in wolf form before. Her wolf had grown much stronger over the last few weeks, the bond between wolf and woman strengthening.
Catching the scent of rabbit, she darted to the right, pouncing directly behind her prey, yipping excitedly. Then another scent caught her attention.
Wolf. Man.
Mate.
He was here.
Distracted, she completely forgot about the rabbit as she raced quickly forward, knowing he was waiting.
Ten feet from the clearing where they’d taken to meeting, she stopped and changed. Even changing was easier, more seamless, and recovering didn’t take her hours.
Stepping forward, Hanna walked into the clearing where he waited.
“Marcus,” she breathed, running forward.
He opened his arms, catching her close, his mouth searing against hers. It seemed as if the more they had of each other the more they needed. The hunger never went away.
With a groan he pulled back, staring down at her. “Too long, it’s been too long since I touched you like this.”
She chuckled. “It’s been two days.” But she felt the burn as well.
They’d been doing this for a fortnight now. Clandestine meetings in the woods. Sneaking around. For a start it had been kind of fun. Now she wished nothing more than to touch him in public, to sleep with him, have him hold her all night.
But it wasn’t to be. Not yet.
“Two days too long. Stand back, let me look at you.”
With a shy smile, she stepped away, moving back farther when he made a movement with his hand.
“Turn around for me, baby. Stop there.”
Damn, she loved when he got all bossy during sex.
“That is one fine ass you have there, Tink.”
She nearly snorted. He’d taken to calling her that most of the time, probably because he worried about slipping up and calling her Hanna.
“Bend over for me.”
Hanna glanced over her shoulder at him, her breath coming faster. Bend over? Really?
“Now, sweetheart, or your butt is going to wear my handprints.”
She bent over slowly.
“Beautiful,” he told her.
Her breath caught as he brushed his hand down her backside, and she tensed, expecting him to smack her. Instead he simply cupped her, squeezing her butt cheek.
Hanna let out a shuddering breath.
A low whimper filled the air.
Marcus chuckled and ran his finger down the crack of her ass. “Part your legs for me, baby. I want access to that sweet pussy.”
Hanna shifted her left foot along, splitting her thighs apart.
“Wider.” Patiently, he rubbed her butt. “Good girl,” he praised her.
He brushed his fingers over her mound, one finger pushing between her bare lips to dip into the cream within.
“Ahh, baby,” he sighed. “You’re so wet.”
He tapped his finger against her clit, making it hard for her to think. Sparks crackled through her, bringing her closer and closer to shattering.
Marcus pulled his hand from her pussy and Hanna thrust back, not wanting to lose his touch.
“Stay still,” he ordered.
Hell. Here she wanted a quick fuck to take the edge off and he wanted to play. He ran his hands over her body. The slightly rough skin of his palms caressed her, leaving goose bumps in his wake. He skimmed his fingers over her bottom down to her mound. It took all her concentration to keep her balance as he cupped her mound possessively. He pressed kisses down her back, following the line of her spine until he reached her bottom. Two fingers pierced her sheath.
Hanna whimpered, placing her hands on the ground to keep herself steady, her balance compromised by her weakening legs and the want swirling through her brain.
“Damn, you look so hot with your ass on display.” Marcus helped her to stand, holding onto her until she’d found her balance. His lips met hers. Tongues tangled. Breathless. Needy. He cupped her breasts, tweaking her nipples with his fingers.
Hanna grasped his cock between her palms, running her hands up and down his firm shaft.
“Christ,” he moaned, stepping back. “Stop now, Hanna, or I’ll come before I ever get close to that delicious pussy. And right now, I want a taste. Just a little appetizer because I can’t last much longer, and when I come I want to feel the warm, hot walls of your pussy around my dick, milking me, caressing me.”
Dropping to his knees, he spread her lower lips apart. “Now that is the most gorgeous pussy I’ve seen in my life and so sweet I’m getting addicted. Did you know I have a sweet tooth, baby?”
“Why do you think I bake so much?”
His gaze shot up to meet hers. “You bake for me?”
“Always.”
“Oh, someone’s going to get a reward,” He blew on her clit before licking her, from the bottom of her slit all the way to the top. He drove two fingers deep inside her, swirling them, teasing that sensitive spot inside her.
Then he attacked her clit with a ferocity that stole her breath, using not just his tongue, but his mouth and teeth as well. He twisted his fingers, hitting a delicious spot deep inside her. Ripples of pleasure had just begun to engulf her when he pulled his fingers free of her pussy.
Hanna drove her hips up, wanting more. With a chuckle that had her clit humming at the sensation, he parted her ass cheeks then pressed his wet fingers against her asshole.
She tensed slightly as he pressed one finger into her ass.
“Relax, remember how good this feels.”
Hanna took a deep breath then let it out, willing her muscles to release their tension. He slipped his finger in. He moved his mouth back to her clit and pleasure swamped her.
“Marcus, I can’t stand it,” she cried. “I’ll fall.”
He raised one hand, clasping her around her hips to provide some much needed support as he drove his tongue into her passage. In and out, his finger in her ass kept time with his tongue.
Orgasm built, rising through her body. Starting at her toes, it washed over her body as she cried out, throwing her head back. Marcus sucked on her clit until the shudders left her.
“Wow, oh, wow.” She clasped his shoulders. “That was amazing.”
“Baby, you ain’t seen nothing yet.”
Marcus stood and fought against the urge to simply throw Hanna to the ground and mount her. To ram his dick home. Instead he dipped his head and licked his tongue across one erect nipple.
She grabbed hold of his head.
“Arms at your sides, baby.”
She dropped them down obediently.
“Good girl. Is your pussy hungry for me?”
“Yes, I need you. Now.” Her voice was pure demand.
“Turn around and place your hands on the tree behind you. Don’t move them.”
She spun so quickly that he reached his hands out, worried she might trip and fall. But she kept her balance, her hands on the tree. Damn, she made him hot when she obeyed him. Her faith in him was a gift he swore he wouldn’t betray.
“Spread those legs wide.”
Marcus strode quickly over to where he’d left his clothes. Reaching into his jeans, he grabbed a condom and covered his dick.
Grasping the base of his cock, he bent his knees and lined the head up, slowly slipping inside her slick lips.
Marcus lifted her unti
l her feet dangled off the ground, driving her up and down his shaft. He kissed the soft skin behind her ear, moving down her neck, nipping then sucking.
“Touch yourself, Hanna, make yourself come.”
Her breath came harder. “I can’t,” she cried.
“Yes, you can. Touch your clit. I want you to come again.”
He stilled, waiting for her to obey him. Instantly, her passage fastened down on his dick and he resumed driving into her. “That’s it, Hanna. Pleasure yourself. You feel so good surrounding me with your heat. I can’t last much longer.”
He moved faster, but she easily adjusted to his rhythm, keeping up with him. Damn, she was perfect.
Biting down on her neck, he let out a groan as she clenched around his cock. Her orgasm immediately set his own release into action, rolling through him, rocking him.
Panting, his legs shaking, he carefully set her down. Turning her, he tucked her against his chest, holding her tight as they came down from their high.
“You’re so precious to me,” he told her. “I hope you know that.”
Her eyes darkened, a grin curving her lips. He loved how much she smiled now. How her laughter filled the house. Each time he heard her chuckle he had to fight the urge to grin.
He swept a lock of her hair behind her ear. “I love you.”
“I love you too.” Her eyes sheened over. “I never thought I’d have someone of my own. A mate. I always thought I was too weird. But you make me feel so special, so wanted.”
“You are special,” he told her. “And I don’t ever want you to think anything different. You’re the most important person in my world, I know it doesn’t seem that way—”
“Shh.” She placed a finger over his lips. “Don’t apologize. I know this isn’t easy, but it has to be this way right now.”
He ran his hand over his head. “Part of me wants to run off with you. I mean, I’ve never wanted the responsibility of a pack. You, me and a quiet cabin in the middle of nowhere—that sounds like a dream.”
She shook her head with a small smile. “You need this. You enjoy taking care of others. Everyone just needs time to get to know you, then they’ll realize how wonderful you are.”
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