He growled and lifted his head. “Do that again.”
Unable to resist, Shayla slowly tightened her thighs until she rode his hips. As soon as she moved, he sucked her nipple into his mouth. Every time she slowed, he’d nip her.
Shayla clawed at his shoulders, desperate for the release hovering just out of reach. “Aiden.”
The maddening bastard denied her, stretching up the length of her body until his lips hovered over hers. The action pressed him firmly between her thighs. If he shifted just a little, she’d go over the edge. She shivered at the need to keep moving, but he held stubbornly still.
“Look at me.”
Her eyes snapped open.
Desire and naked need burned in the green depths of his eyes, but so did a stark loneliness that nearly broke her heart. She cupped his face, stroking his check. “Aiden.”
Gazing into her eyes, he shifted his hips and pushed his way into her, inch by delicious inch. She’d expected rough need. Instead, he watched every nuance of her face until he finally slid home.
Shayla wrapped herself around him. He didn’t move except for a slight twist of his hips that made her gasp. The edge that had been so close before came rushing back.
She waited for him to take her, but all he did was hold still, shaking with restraint. She couldn’t hold back anymore. “Please.”
He twisted again, and she was helpless to stay still.
“Come for me.” His voice was rough. Hard. A command she was helpless to disobey.
Chapter Eighteen
When Shayla could breathe again, she opened her eyes to find Aiden still watching her. She wiggled, shocked to discover him still fully erect. Her brows furrowed. “You didn’t—”
He withdrew, rolled her over onto her stomach, dragged back her hips until she was on her knees, and slid into her with a single thrust.
Shayla gasped and shivered at the sudden invasion. He nearly withdrew all the way before plunging home again. He cupped her breasts and, much to her surprise, she arched back into him, eager for more. After just a touch of his fingers at her core, a second release took her by surprise, even more powerful than the first.
Aiden picked up speed, his rhythm faltered, then he went flying with her. She collapsed, her arms trembling, her eyelids heavy. He wrapped his arms around her and gently lowered her to the rug, kissing her shoulder so softly she almost missed it.
The warmth from the fire spilled over her. Aiden lay at her back, but with each passing second his body stiffened more. Her euphoria slipped away. She moved to turn when his arms tightened. Disappointment whirled in her mind, and the warm glow in her chest sputtered. A hitch of pain caught in her chest.
“You don’t have to regret what happened. I don’t expect anything from you. We both have lives to go back to.”
Her offer nearly shoved him screaming over the edge of sanity. Aiden lay rigid, barely able to hold his beast back from binding her so she could never leave. His wolf had never wanted his wife and had avoided her whenever possible. The opposite was true with Shayla, but Aiden couldn’t bear to tie her to them for life, not if it meant that she could come to hate him for stealing away her choices.
He would not give her any loopholes to leave him.
But he couldn’t stay in the same room and not claim her. It took a physical effort to release her, his wolf fighting his decision. Loss threatened to crush him as the chance to claim her slipped further away. With beast frantically pawing at him, he shot to his feet and grabbed his pants before his wolf took the decision out of his hands.
They would have another opportunity, he vowed it.
When he spotted the bright splash of color of her panties, he quickly pocketed them. “Get dressed. I want to show you something.”
He was out the room before her scent could lure him back and tempt him into trying out that large, empty bed. He rested his head against the door as he fought for calm. He refused to believe this would be their last time together. Regrets plagued him that he hadn’t taken the time to taste her intimately. Take her a third and fourth time.
He fingered the silken fabric in his pocket, the touch surprisingly calming him, and he comforted himself that the longer they remained in each other’s company the stronger their connection grew.
It was only when he heard movement in her room that he finally straightened and took a deep breath. He’d tame her wanderlust ways by show her his world and convince her that he had more to offer than her old life could ever provide.
* * *
Shayla lingered by the door, working up her nerve to follow, feeling a bit lost after his abrupt departure. She re-knotted the ruined ties to the dress, smoothing the crumpled material as she debated her options.
She’d never had a man run from her…at least not until after they discovered what she did for a living. She was the one who usually sent them packing before it progressed to that point.
She didn’t like the reversal at all.
She opened the door, surprised to see Aiden leaning casually against the far wall. Then she saw what was in his hands.
Her panties.
“Give them back.”
Her face heated as he very deliberately folded and shoved them into his pocket.
He straightened to his full height, muscles bulged as he crossed his arms. His face went hard. Okay, that was impressive. Despite herself, she was a little bit intimidated, but she wasn’t backing down. She thrust out her arm and wiggled her fingers for emphasis.
He seized her hand and linked their fingers together, ignoring the way she tried to shake free. “I earned them. Spend the evening being my guest, and I’ll think about returning them.”
Shayla raised a brow. “Blackmail? I thought better of you than that.”
Teeth flashed as he smiled. “When it comes to you, I’ll use everything at my arsenal to win.”
“Win?” But instead of responding, he tugged on her hand and began walking.
They took the staircase leading away from the main hall, the steps winding endlessly upward. They came to a stop at a large wooden door that had to be centuries old and probably weighed a ton. Aiden unlatched and opened it without a hint of strain. Fresh air swept through the stairway, tugging at her skirt, making her very aware that she wasn’t wearing anything underneath.
He led her outside, and Shayla was surprised to see a garden spread over the large expanse of the roof. “What is this place?”
Aiden’s fingers flexed a little at the question, but he didn’t drop her hand as they wandered through the plants on a narrow path. “I suppose you could consider it an outdoor solar. It was intended as a place for the lord and lady to go when they need time alone.”
“And the flowers?” Shayla gently touched the petals of a beautiful pink bloom. Its sweet fragrance surrounded her.
Aiden snapped off the delicate stem and handed it to her. Their fingers touched as Shayla accepted the colorful flower. He stepped closer, his green eyes darkening. Shayla almost convinced herself to accept his kiss, but she pulled back at the last moment. She couldn’t allow herself to succumb again, not until she knew why he ran from her less than an hour ago.
“You grew these, didn’t you?”
Aiden inhaled at her rejection, but otherwise didn’t react. “Come.”
He tugged on her hand once again, leading her through the colorful maze. When they approached a chest-high wall covered with climbing ivy, he stood close behind her and slowly wrapped his arms around her waist. “Look.”
Shayla was nearly distracted by his warm, intimate tone. Until she looked where he pointed. Sunlight spilled over the valley below, a bright orange and red as the sun hovered near the horizon. Lush green landscape was spread out before her. Shadows from the craggy mountains in the distance stole across the land as the evening chased away the light.
The terrain was beautiful and untamed.
Both isolated and fierce.
So much like the man holding her.
No mat
ter where she looked, there was nothing but rugged land and fields. She would never have been able to run without being caught. She held her breath and waited, but the panic she expected to feel never came. To her surprise, she didn’t actually want to leave. Not anymore. It was peaceful here, less chaotic without her demanding job and psychotic stalker.
She’d never strayed far from her city life and the hustle and bustle of crowds. Much to her shock, her gift hovered around her like a comforting blanket instead of suffocating her.
When the sun finally vanished, stealing the last of the light, Aiden inhaled deeply. “I come here to think. Working with the plants keeps my hands busy and my mind free to worry out any problems. A lot of the plants are used for cooking and medicinal purposes.”
“The men here rely on you.”
“There are three of us who run the place. I stay here with the men.”
“Do you ever feel trapped?”
Aiden took a while to answer. “Not really. People tend to take one look at me and cast judgment.”
He paused as if waiting for her reaction. Shayla almost laughed when she recalled her first reaction to him. “You’re not the only one.”
Aiden pressed lips against the side of her neck. “Is it hard for you?”
“Hard?” Shayla shrugged, wanting to avoid going into why her gift made a normal life impossible. Until she’d learned to control her gift as a child, all she had to do was touch someone or something to learn their deepest secrets. It was not conducive to making friends. Not that she could tell him that, especially not now. If he learned about her gift and what she could read from him and his men, he would never let her go. “At times. I’m more of a loner.”
The brush of Aiden’s thumb across the tip of her breast diverted her thoughts. Only when a chilly breeze swept over her thighs did she discover that he’d slowly been raising her skirt.
“What are you doing?” Shayla was bemused.
His fingers skated up her thigh, leaving a string of heat in their wake, before disappearing under her skirt. “If you don’t know, then I must be doing something wrong.”
Her stomach tumbled at his husky response. When his questing fingers brushed intimately against her, her knees threatened to give way. She grabbed the wall for support, the rough surface of the stone scraping against her fingers.
“Aren’t we going to be late for dinner?” Not that she cared anymore as a hunger of another sort swept over her.
“Then you’d best hurry.” As if to put his words into action, he deepened his caress. She arched into his touch, her nails scraping against the wall, her body no longer hers to command. Then he leaned down, nipping at her throat. The sharp, unexpected sting sent her flying.
When she could breathe again and stand on her own two feet, Shayla turned in his arms. Eager to be closer, she swept her hands up his chest, standing on her toes, aching to capture his lips.
But he pushed her away.
Again.
“I don’t understand.” Without the warmth of his arms, cold burrowed through the protective layers of her heart. She crossed her arms, not caring for the way her hands trembled, hating the physical pain that rippled through her at each inch separating them
Aiden rested his forehead against hers, clutching her arms when she tried to back away. “We can’t miss dinner. If I kiss you right now, I won’t stop.” He trailed a finger down her cheek, but it felt like he reached into her and touched her soul. “I need more than a few hours to finish what I have in mind for you.”
Shayla shivered at the sensual promise in his voice, almost succumbed to the lure, but she tore herself away. Aiden was right. Each encounter with him only ratcheted up her excitement, turned her on all the more. Everything was happening too fast. They both needed distance, time to cool their lust.
The novelty of it left her breathless. If his smug smile was anything to go by, the bastard knew it, too.
Shayla trailed her hand down his chest until her fingers reached the waistband of his jeans. She trailed a single nail along the edge and looked up at him from under her lashes. “I hope you can survive that long.”
Aiden inhaled. “I can smell your desire for me. It’s enough.” Then he caught her hands, stopping her questing fingers. “For now. But be warned, play with me and you’ll pay for it later.”
That was the only warning Aiden would give her. He barely restrained himself from taking everything she offered and demanding more. His wolf whined at the delay in staking claim, but Aiden had vowed to eliminate the threat to her and the pack first. Once everything was settled, he’d figure out a way to explain his ancestry and convince her she belonged at his side.
Should be easy.
Except for the last woman who had learned the truth chose death rather than stay with him.
Chapter Nineteen
With more than a little trepidation, Shayla followed Aiden to the main hall. She clutched his hand, cursing the way her heart thundered in her ears at the prospect of being paraded in front of his family.
His pack.
She wanted to create a good impression, but she felt awkward in the borrowed dress, conscious of being completely bare beneath the soft fabric thanks to Aiden’s meddling. When his scorching gaze landed on her, the knowledge glowed in his eyes, and her misgivings turned into anticipation for what would come afterward.
As soon as her foot came off the last step, Aiden pushed her up against the wall, brushing his lips over hers in a hot rush, nibbling and taking everything she offered and demanding more, all the while touching her with nothing more than his mouth. Just when her brain was ready to turn to mush, he broke the kiss. Despite her promise to remain strong, a small whimper escaped. His mouth lingered, his lips barely touching her, as if savoring her taste, before he finally straightened. It took an embarrassingly long time for her eyes to open and focus, and a longer time for her to be sure her legs would support her. “Remember that they are more nervous to meet you than you are of meeting them.”
Shayla snorted, hating that more than her lips still tingled at the devastating kiss. “I doubt that.”
Aiden smiled a little devilishly. “Just concentrate on what I have planned for you later.”
He danced away before she could swat him, and she gave chase. When they burst into the main hall, all conversation stopped. Shayla skidded to a halt. It took Aiden’s nudge to get her moving again…it was either walk or fall flat on her face. He guided her toward a big table in front of the group, and she struggled not to drag her feet.
There were near forty men of all ages crammed from wall to wall, changing the once gigantic room into an itty-bitty living space. The men were well groomed and freshly showered. Their eyes followed her like a stripper at a bachelor party. Some smiled, while others just stared as if she were their own personal squeaky toy. No one spoke, no one so much as twitched.
Her chest burned under the attention, and Shayla gulped for air, trying not to hyperventilate. It didn’t help. A spark flared to life in her gut, and her gift woke with a vengeance.
Panic surged up her throat, leaving a rancid aftertaste, and her gaze flicked around the room, frantically searching for the nearest exit.
This couldn’t be happening.
Not here.
Not now.
She jerked her hand from Aiden’s, immediately missing his warmth as she backed away.
It was much too dangerous.
She couldn’t risk him becoming infected by her magic.
She had to get out. Had to flee. Even as she scuttled back, the room altered, colors bled away as the Frost World and real world collided. Heat burned under her skin, the flames licking at her flesh.
Indistinct shapes formed from the shadows like fog, and she braced herself for an attack. Wraiths lived in the parallel plane. There was a cruelty to them, aimed at humans, which seemed bred down to the bone. Their hatred and thirst for the living was all-consuming.
But instead of those vicious creatures, a pack of
wolves charged out of the dark mass, the animals all sleek and beautiful. They roamed amongst the men, both curious and playful. One appeared brighter than the rest, nearly twice the size of the others. He wove his way through the crowd, ignoring everything around him, those eyes of his gleaming as he stalked toward her.
Her mind screamed at her to run, a primitive command that warned she’d be devoured if she didn’t flee. She trembled with the effort to hold her ground. Running would gain her nothing. She had to face the danger, a lesson she’d learned the hard way. If her magic had something to show her, there was nothing she could do to stop it.
The large beast came to a stop in front of her, sniffing at her skirt. Seemingly satisfied with what he discovered, he leaned his massive body against her, nearly knocking her off her feet. He did it again and again as if trying to herd her toward the door on the opposite side of the room.
When she wasn’t moving fast enough, he nipped at her ankles, and she barely bit back a yelp of pain.
“Shayla?”
Aiden watched her, concern darkening his gaze.
She must look like an idiot, prancing around the room to evade the hound’s persistent prodding. “Ah, bathroom.”
Aiden nodded, but his eyes narrowed in suspicion. “The door behind you. Take a right.”
Shayla bolted from the room, the devil dog hard on her heels. As soon as the door shut, she whirled. “Bad doggie. What do you think you’re doing?”
As if delighted by her response, he smiled, revealing a fine set of big, sharp teeth just waiting to munch on her. Shayla carefully straightened. “Okay, you win. I’ll follow, but we’ll have to hurry, lest they think I fell into the toilet. You’ve embarrassed me enough with that display out there.”
The dog trotted left, down a dimly lit hallway, melting into the gloomy interior of the castle. Shayla faltered, questioning her sanity. Nothing good could come from what he wanted to show her, they were not her secrets to learn. Just when she was about to scurry back into the main hall, the dog gave a sharp yip as if to warn her to get her ass moving. Those yellow eyes locked on her, and his legs bunched as if he was prepared to retrieve her if she made it necessary.
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