by Jaci Burton
Not that it was a hardship. His thoughts hadn’t once strayed toward the sexual arena.
Okay, maybe once. Or twice. Oh hell, his dick had been hard the entire time he’d bathed her. Despite the blood and bruise marks on her body, she was beautiful. Tough, yet vulnerable.
Quit thinking. It’ll only get you in trouble.
He grasped the snifters of brandy along with the bottle and carried them into the living room. Katya sat snuggled in the corner of the sofa with a blanket wrapped around her legs. They’d compromised on the sofa after she refused to go to bed, saying she needed to sit up for a while, that she couldn’t possibly sleep right now. Even though she’d told him she felt fine and he could leave, something prevented him from doing so.
Peter wouldn’t be back to bother her tonight. Conner knew Noah would keep a watchful eye over him. But still, he felt compelled to stay.
She looked up as he approached, managing a tremulous smile. She was already starting to heal, the lupine recuperative powers working quickly. The massive gash along her cheek was no more than a faint red line now. By morning it would be gone. The bruises along her arms, neck and face were fading.
Katya was one strong woman. Most would have crumbled under an assault like that, even a lupine. But she had a steel backbone, showing more anger than fear. He admired her for that.
“How do you feel?” he asked, handing her the snifter.
She took a sip and licked her bottom lip. His cock twitched.
“Better. Thank you. You really don’t have to stay.”
“I know I don’t. I want to.” He took a long swallow, hoping the fiery liquid would numb his libido. Lusting after a woman who’d just suffered a near-rape wasn’t a good idea. The last thing he wanted to do was frighten her or have her doubt his reason for staying.
She didn’t look scared, though. Instead, she studied him with clear, thoughtful eyes that heated him from the inside out. “Tell me about Peter.”
She shrugged and finished off the brandy in two gulps. Her eyes watered and she shook it off. “He’s a pain in the ass.”
Conner laughed and refilled her glass. “Obviously. Has he tried anything like this before?”
“No. I’ve known him my entire life. He’s a year older than me and we used to play together as children. Then when I returned home after college, he made it known he wanted to mate.”
“You obviously didn’t want that.”
“No, I didn’t. He didn’t seem to care what I wanted. He was convinced I’d change my mind. But I never expected him to go this far.”
“I wonder what triggered it tonight?”
She blushed and looked down at her lap before meeting his gaze again. “He told me he saw you and me together.”
Ah, that explained the reason for Peter’s rage. Jealousy. “So he decided since you were willing to give it up to me, he’d just show you who was boss.”
She arched a brow. “I don’t know about my willingness to ‘give it up to you’, but yes, I think he was jealous enough to stop asking and start taking.”
“What do you mean you don’t know?” She sure as hell seemed willing earlier. Then again, she had stopped him.
After draining her second glass of brandy, she said, “What happened earlier tonight between us was a mistake.”
Was that her honest opinion, or embarrassment? “I didn’t think it was a mistake at all.”
She grabbed the bottle of brandy and splashed more into her glass. “Come on, Conner. You and I have a business relationship right now. Sex would only complicate that.”
“True. But it doesn’t stop me from wanting to make love to you.”
Katya hitched a gasp as his words penetrated, hotter than the brandy burning its way through her body.
Dammit! She wasn’t supposed to feel desire. Not now, not for him. But she couldn’t stop her traitorous body from wanting what she shouldn’t want, what she couldn’t have.
Maybe it was the brandy. Maybe more of it would dull the ache of need she felt for Conner. She took a long, deep swallow and exhaled.
She normally didn’t drink. Not more than a glass here and there. Yet the brandy went down smooth and easy, creating a lovely, fog-like haze around memories of a night filled with harsh reality. Her muscles relaxed, her bones feeling like they’d melted around her. She sank deeper into the couch and kicked the blanket aside, feeling too hot to be encumbered.
“Why don’t you have someone in your life, Katya?” he asked.
“What?”
He finished his drink and set it on the table. “Look at you. You’re young, beautiful, intelligent and desirable as hell. You must have men panting after you all the time. Why haven’t you mated yet?”
She laughed, the fuzzy feeling in her head deliciously enticing. “I guess I haven’t found the right one yet. I don’t give men those kinds of signals. I’m just not interested in any of the ones I know.”
He arched a brow. “You sure as hell gave me one tonight. Why?”
Memories of what they’d done drifted over her like a dip in a warm, scented pool. She took another drink of brandy, realizing she’d already consumed way more than she should. But she liked this feeling of numbness. “I don’t know what happened tonight. I just… I don’t know.”
Why couldn’t she form a coherent sentence? And why did the room suddenly seem so much smaller? She stared at Conner through brandy-soaked eyes, feeling the heat penetrate her sex. Her pussy throbbed.
No, wait. She didn’t want Conner Devlin. But she couldn’t remember why. There didn’t seem to be a good enough reason to have walked away from him.
“Do I scare you, Katya?”
She frowned. “No. Not at all.”
“Then why did you run earlier?”
Hell if she could remember why. Had to be the brandy obliterating her brain cells. Nothing seemed clear anymore. Forgetting everything seemed to be a really good idea right now.
“I don’t know why. All I know is I don’t want to run anymore.” That much was true. She was tired of running, tired of waiting, tired of others making decisions for her. Why couldn’t she have what she wanted, when she wanted it?
“Tell me what you want,” he said, his voice a warm, comfortable lifeline. “Let me give you what you need.”
Maybe it was remnants of Peter’s touch that made her want to give Conner an honest answer. She wanted to erase the feel of Peter’s hands on her, of his body pressed intimately against her, and replace it with Conner’s hands, mouth and body. She wanted to take that feeling of helplessness and toss it right out the window, replace it with the power of her own choice.
She knew exactly what she wanted. For the first time in her life, she wanted control over her destiny. And this hazy place between fantasy and reality was a perfect start.
“I want you, Conner. I want you to touch me, to take away any traces of Peter that linger on my body or in my mind, and replace it with memories of you.”
His eyes went golden, glowing like a bright flame. “I think that’s the brandy talking.”
Everyone always seemed to think they knew what was best for her. She reached for him, scooting closer until her bare thigh brushed his jean-clad leg. The contact was electric, arcing between her legs so fast and furious she wanted to slide her hand there and increase the intensity. “No, it’s me talking. I do know what I want, Conner. Please don’t make me ask again.”
Maybe he wasn’t interested after what happened tonight. Some men blamed the woman for a rape or attempted rape, as if she’d somehow led them on. Is that how Conner felt?
But he reached for her chin, tipping it up so her gaze met his. She didn’t see condemnation in his eyes; she saw raw, untamed desire. “I don’t want to hurt you. I want you, Katya, so damn bad my cock aches. But you have to call the shots and tell me exactly how, when and how hard you want it.”
Oh, God. How. When. How hard. Her entire body tingled with anticipation. She’d never wanted anything as desperately as she wan
ted him. “I’m not very…experienced. Show me.”
Jesus! Conner couldn’t believe such innocence and allure existed in one woman. Her body and her eyes spoke volumes of her need, her desire. Signals no man would be able to miss. Yet she spoke of inexperience, requesting he show her what to do.
She was every man’s dream. A willing woman, sexy as hell, asking to be taught. Goddamn that was hot.
But he had to make sure she really wanted this. After what she’d been through tonight, the last thing he’d do is take advantage of her.
“Are you sure this is what you want?”
Her lips curved into a smile that made his cock jerk against his pants.
“I choose who makes love to me, Conner. And I want you.”
He didn’t need any more assurances. Gathering her into his arms, he pulled her onto his lap.
God. He’d forgotten she wasn’t wearing panties. Just his T-shirt. Her body was warm, inviting, pliable as she relaxed against him and laid her head on his shoulder.
Her hot cunt settled over his jean-clad shaft and he almost came right then. Her moisture soaked through the denim, hot, musky, the scent of her filling the room and signaling her desire.
She felt so damn good in his arms. He wanted to tear the T-shirt off and lick her entire body, putting his scent, his mark all over her. He wanted to come inside her pussy. Deep and hard.
Don’t rush. Katya needs this slow and easy. He had to rein in his lust. It might kill him, but he’d do it.
Cradling her in his arms like this made him feel protective. And possessive. She trusted him. Considering what she’d been through tonight, that was one amazing gift.
She wanted him to erase Peter’s touch from her memories. He’d damn well do that. The only memories he wanted Katya to have were of him. His body on her, in her, taking possession of her.
Fuck. Too intense. Slow down. Think sex, not mating.
Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.
She tilted her head back and looked up at him. Her hair was still damp and draped over his arm like black silk. Her eyes were liquid, shimmering in the dim light of the room, dilated with desire. Her lips parted, her tongue swiping over the bottom.
Too late. No way in hell was he going back now.
With a groan he pulled her up and took her mouth, trying desperately to leash his passion. Damn, it was difficult to hold back, especially when she whimpered and wrapped her arm around his neck, sliding her fingers into his hair and pulling him closer. Her passion overwhelmed him. Unexpected, tenuous, yet still fervent as she pressed more fully against his chest, her hip massaging his aching cock.
The taste of her was as intoxicating as the flavor of the brandy that clung to her lips and tongue. He licked her tongue, shuddering at the hot sparks of pleasure that shot between his legs. Rocking his shaft against her hip, he mentally cursed the fact that he still wore clothes. He needed to feel his flesh against hers, needed her wet, steaming hot cunt squeezing his cock.
Concentrating on her pleasure, he skirted his hand over her shoulder and down her arm, loving the buttery soft feel of her skin. Careful not to move too fast, he stroked her hip, kneading her flesh, timing his movements to her reactions. She arched against him, her legs parting as she shifted again.
His cock was going to explode soon if she kept whimpering like that. Her need spurred him on and he lifted the T-shirt, exposing more of her upper thighs and the beautiful treasure between them.
Her mound had a thatch of soft black curls, her pussy lips smooth. The bud of her clit peeked out of its protective hood, begging for his mouth. Moisture glistened along her slit, signaling her readiness for him.
Christ almighty it was hard to hold back.
Katya was lost in a whirlwind of sensations almost too arousing to bear. She’d never felt like this before. So out of control, so desperate for release. Even when she’d released the pressure building inside her with her own hand, she’d never been worked into such a frenzy.
Conner’s scent filled her, drove her arousal with his clean, earthy smell. His hard cock pressing against her hip sent her mind into visions of what it would be like to feel him inside her. Tingling sparks of agonizing pleasure thrummed her clit. Her sex poured juices of need between her thighs as her mind conjured up muddled visions of Conner between her legs, touching her, tasting her, fucking her. Her womb quivered just thinking about what it would be like to take his cock in her hands, examine it, run her fingers over the shaft and lick his essence from the tip.
The urge was strong. Too strong to deny this time.
Something in her mind told her to stop, that she was about to make an irrevocable choice, but she pushed it aside, tired of always doing what was right.
If this was wrong, then it was wrong. But it was what she wanted, what she needed.
Desperate for mating, she sat up and turned so that she faced him. She touched every inch of his body, her hands roaming over broad shoulders and muscled arms, settling along his chest. Resting her palm against his heart, she smiled at the racing beat. When he responded with a groan, she investigated further, flicking her fingers over a distended nipple. He sucked in a swift breath. Katya hoped her brandy-soaked mind could commit these sensations to memory.
“I need to feel my skin against yours,” he said, his voice rough, intense.
Before she could respond, he lifted the shirt up and over her breasts, tugging it over her head and casting it to the floor.
The way he looked at her was like a shot of pure fire, his gaze burning over every inch of her naked body. She shifted and moved off him, her fingers fumbling over the buttons of his shirt.
Damn brandy. She could barely focus on those tiny little buttons.
Conner brushed her hands aside and quickly unsheathed the buttons, then pulled the shirt off. He stood and reached for the zipper of his jeans. Her gaze targeted his crotch and the outline of his erection pressed against the tight denim.
It looked big. Really big. She swallowed and reached for her glass, taking a long drink of the remaining amber liquid, hoping to moisten her suddenly dry throat.
His fingers poised at the zipper, his gaze raking her body. She could have sworn she saw his cock leap against his jeans.
Slowly, agonizingly slowly, he drew the zipper down, revealing a line of dark, fuzzy hair that disappeared inside the denim. Her next breath shuddered as he pushed the jeans over his hips and slid them to the floor.
His cock sprang up. A wide, mushroom-shaped head led to a thick shaft that made her mouth water. His cock was lined with veins and ridges she wanted to explore with her hands, her mouth. What did he feel like? Hard, soft? The tip looked like velvet. How would it feel inside her?
No, she didn’t need another drink this time. She needed to feel that cock buried inside her.
“Keep looking at me like that and my promise to take this slow is going to disappear.”
She dragged her gaze away from his cock and to his face. “I don’t want to take this slow. I want you inside me, Conner.”
The golden green glow of his eyes turned feral, his power evident in the corded muscles of his arms. He reached for her, but despite the fierce draw of his features, was surprisingly gentle. He swooped her into his arms and headed back toward the bedroom.
Blood greeted them. On the sheets, the floor, everywhere.
Visions of Peter’s attack came back to her, her anger rising quickly. She felt no fear after what happened, but she was damned pissed off that he had tried to take what she had never offered him.
No. She didn’t want to feel anger right now. Not when Conner had stretched her out on a blissful rack of pleasure and anticipation. She pushed thoughts of Peter aside, concentrating instead on the naked man holding her in his arms as if she weighed nothing.
“Shit,” he muttered, then pulled the blanket off the floor, tossed it over her and stepped through the French doors leading to her patio.
Cold night air swept across her cheeks. She shivered
and Conner pulled her closer, heading swiftly toward his cottage. He pushed the door open and headed straight for his bedroom, depositing her on the coverlet and dragging her blanket away. She scooted up to the pillows and laid back, content to watch the way he moved. Graceful, yet with a barely leashed power she found incredibly erotic. His body was a work of art. She could spend hours just examining the hair sprinkled across his chest and then testing the strength of his broad shoulders.
He was much more than she could have ever expected. There was so much to learn about a man’s body. How his skin felt so different than hers, his muscles more pronounced than hers. His scent was unlike anything she’d ever picked up before, and she’d been present during mating rituals, had seen and smelled lupine men.
Nothing could have prepared her for this. Her reaction was different, because Conner was her man.
At least tonight.
Funny the things one thought about when enveloped in a haze of brandy.
Conner settled on the bed next to her, dragging her onto her side to face him.
“Put your leg over my hip,” he commanded.
She lifted her leg and slung it over him, putting her pussy in direct contact with his shaft. Instinctively she rubbed against his cock, dragging her clit against his hard flesh and crying out with the agonizing pleasure.
Conner kissed her, taking her mouth insistently, savagely, no longer holding back as he ravaged her tongue, sucking it between his teeth, sending her spiraling into oblivion. She inched closer and once again rocked her sex against his shaft, moistening it with the flood of her juices.
“Goddamn, Katya. You’re so wet.” He reached between them, stroking her clit and aligning his cock head between her pussy lips. He teased her, swirling his thumb over the distended bud.
“Oh, God, Conner, I need to come so badly. Please help me.” She knew she muttered incoherently, hardly able to put two words together, but she was in desperate need of release. His skin was flame, his mouth an erotic inferno coaxing her response.
