Fire & Gasoline: A Shifter Romance (Audax Pack Book 1)

by Colette Rhodes

  “Archer,” she cooed, sounding a little strained. “You brought a girl.”

  It hadn’t escaped my attention that the closer Camille got to me, the more Wren’s body angled possessively towards mine, closing the gap between us.

  “I did,” I confirmed, playing with the ends of Wren’s hair while she was feeling territorial enough to let me touch her.

  “Wow, you must be something special. Archer never brings any of the girls anywhere,” Camille said, her voice holding a smidge too much bite to pull off the dismissive tone she was going for.

  “Well, I guess that does make me special,” Wren replied, sounding bored as she let one of her hands drift lightly across my chest. Her touch was fucking lethal. My cock was aching in my jeans, and we were both fully dressed. I might die of happiness if I ever got her naked.

  “Maybe you have a magical vagina,” Camille said with a forced laugh, glancing at the crowd we were drawing out of the corner of her eye. If she had a wolf, her eyes would be glowing, the urge to prove her dominance riding her.

  “I’m sure you’ll find the guy that thinks your pussy feels like heaven and tastes like cotton candy one day,” Wren deadpanned. There was a cautionary edge to her gaze. Like she was telling Camille with her eyes to rein it in, not to be a fucking idiot.

  Camille gave Wren a weak half-smile, defeat written all over her features as the fight went out of her. “Hopefully.”

  Fuck. Did Wren’s pussy taste like cotton candy? I bet it did. Fortunately, she’d angled herself in front of me, and I discreetly adjusted the bulge in my jeans. Miles looked like he was barely holding his laughter in, and I kind of wanted to break his smug, stupid face.

  Wren turned fully to face me, sliding both palms up my chest and fisting my shirt. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Camille slinking away, dismissed by Wren’s turned back.

  I tested my luck by smoothing my hands over Wren’s waist and letting them rest on the sinful curve of her hips.

  “That was fucking sexy, little bird,” I breathed, leaning down to speak into her ear.

  “What was?” she rasped, her grip on my shirt tightening slightly. It felt fucking good to know she was as affected by me as I was by her.

  “Hm, I don’t know. The part where you were the perfect Luna, diffusing the situation without conceding any ground? That was kind of hot,” I murmured, sliding one hand slowly up her body to push a lock of hair behind her ear. “Or the part where you said your pussy felt like heaven and tasted like cotton candy?” I whispered, my lips moving against the now exposed shell of her ear. “Because that thought has me about two seconds away from coming in my jeans.”

  Wren’s breath hitched as she glanced down at the hard-on threatening to bust through my zipper. She may still be mad at me, but by the way she was biting her bottom lip, a hate-fuck wasn’t entirely off the cards.

  “Didn’t I tell you that you’d feel better if you staked your claim?”

  “You really want to bust out the I-told-you-so’s right now?” Wren asked, raising one eyebrow slowly as her nails dug into my chest through the fabric of my shirt.

  “Guys,” Miles called in a strangled voice. “There’s gonna be an orgy in here soon if you don’t get those alpha pheromones out of here.”

  “Shit,” Wren cursed quietly, one hand still fisting my shirt as she dragged me towards the backdoor off the kitchen. I didn’t recognize this Archer — the one who let himself be dragged around. I wasn’t even mad about it.

  I left the door open behind me to air out all the sexy hormones we’d flooded the air with, letting Wren pull me around the side of the house and shove me up against the brick wall. I barely registered what was happening before her lips slammed against mine, her hands roughly pulling at my hair as she pulled her body up against mine. My hands found her perfect ass as I yanked her body higher, bending my leg slightly until Wren was straddling my thigh, riding it like a goddamn cowgirl.

  Fuck me, I was the luckiest bastard on the face of the earth. My fated mate was spending our first kiss trying to get herself off by grinding on my leg.

  Dear Fates, I’m sorry I ever doubted you.

  My tongue swept Wren’s mouth, wrestling with hers as I tried to memorize her addictive taste. It wasn’t a gentle kiss, there was nothing sweet about the way we were clawing at each other, trying to devour each other. My teeth sunk hard into Wren’s pouty lower lip, leaving the teeth marks I’d been dreaming of seeing there since I first saw that delicious mouth.

  “No biting,” Wren hissed as I savored the metallic tang of her blood on my tongue.

  “Fine, fine. No biting. Can we go back to my place now? I really want to test your cotton candy theory.”

  “I need my jacket,” Wren blurted, looking alarmed as she pulled back.

  “Miles will get it,” I assured her, pulling my phone out to message him as I snagged Wren’s hand in mine, pulling her away from the side of the house and up towards the sidewalk. It seriously did something to my insides that the idea of losing the jacket ate at her.

  Obviously, I could never tell her it was from me or she’d set it on fire on principle.

  We walked back to the house as fast as we could without drawing attention, fingers intertwined and gripping each other tightly. Deep down, I knew that she thought this was a one time deal, that she was allowing herself to indulge in our mutual attraction for tonight and she’d go back to hating me tomorrow, but I didn’t let myself dwell on it.

  If one night was all she could give me right now, I’d take it. I hadn’t earned the right to ask her for anything more yet.

  I pulled her in the front door before pushing her back against it, capturing her lips with mine and savoring the taste I already missed after five minutes apart. Fates knew how I’d survive when she snuck out later tonight. I slid my hands down her hips and around to cup her ass, encouraging her to wrap her long, toned legs around my hips. Her hands found my hair, roughly tugging at the strands as she ground down on my erection, two layers of denim separating us.

  I carried her through the dark house to my bedroom, kicking the door shut behind me. She groaned the second we were enclosed in the space. If I ever got into her room, drenched in her scent, I’d probably roll all over the bedding and jack myself off. Hopefully she was feeling the same way.

  Wren pulled impatiently at my shirt, nipping my lip when I didn’t immediately comply. I growled low in my chest, giving her ass a squeeze in warning.

  Before she could retaliate, I tossed her gracelessly into the center of the bed, shooting her a smug grin before reaching over my head to pull my shirt off. Wren moved like she’d protest, but paused as she watched me undress, biting her full pouty bottom lip in a way that made my cock sit up and beg.

  “Your turn, little bird,” I told her as I dropped my jeans. I was going commando, and it seemed like Wren liked what she saw.

  “Fates, that will never fit,” she breathed, round eyes fixed on my cock.

  “Of course it will, we were made for one another.” I replied confidently, taking my length in my hand and stroking it lazily. “Now let me see what’s mine.”

  She gave me an incinerating look, but for once didn’t argue as she sat up on her knees and peeled off the green top. She wore a simple black bra underneath, but it could have been high-end lingerie as far as I was concerned. With a teasing look, she unclasped the bra and let it slide down her arms. Her tits were mouthwatering. I wanted them in my hands. In my mouth. Surrounding my dick.

  She looked so clean and pretty, and I couldn’t wait to turn her into a filthy mess.

  “Lie down,” I rasped, wanting to take the jeans off her myself. Wren gave me a censuring look as indecision warred on her face. “Let me make you feel good, little bird. Fight me all you want, but I’ll never give you control in the bedroom.”

  “This is a one time thing,” she shot back, even as she blessedly laid back on the bed.

  I crawled over her and wasted no time peeling her jeans and
socks off, sitting back for a moment to appreciate the sight of her lying beneath me wearing nothing but a black thong and a hooded pair of bedroom eyes.

  “Today would be great,” Wren bit out, squeezing her thighs together.

  “Not going to ask me nicely?” I teased, sliding the scrap of fabric down her legs. Fuck. Me. She was perfection.

  “I guess I’ll just get the job done myself,” Wren said with a put-upon sigh, sliding her hand slowly over her breast, down her toned stomach, then in between her legs. I pushed her hand out of the way with a growl, settling my face between her thighs.

  She didn’t hesitate to spread her legs, bending them at the knees, not self-conscious in the slightest. I took a slow, leisurely lick of her center, willing myself not to come all over the sheets.

  Wren tasted better than cotton candy. She tasted like caramelized sin.

  I devoured her, going to town on her clit until her back arched and she screamed loud enough that Miles would probably hear her from down the road at the party. I didn’t relent though, determined to wring one more orgasm out of her with my mouth before I had her coming all over my cock.

  I’d pull out every move in the book to satisfy her because I refused to accept that this was a one-night only performance.

  “Archer!” Wren cried, her voice raspy and sensuous as hell. My name on her lips had me practically humping the mattress. Finally. I felt like I’d been waiting my whole life to hear that. I rewarded her by sliding two fingers into her tight wet heat, groaning as I felt how soaked she was. Wren’s muscles spasmed, and I grinned against her at the feel of her orgasm around my fingers.

  Bet that would feel fucking awesome on my cock.

  Time to find out.

  I sucked her taste off my fingers — not gonna waste a drop of that ambrosia — and moved over her, bracing my elbows either side of her head. Wren leaned up to capture my lips in a messy, hot-as-fuck kiss. Her mass of black hair spread out underneath her, her eyes were lazy with lust, and her lips were swollen from kissing. I’d never seen anything more beautiful.

  I lined myself up with her entrance and pushed into her in one smooth movement. She felt like she was made for me. I dropped my forehead to hers, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath to calm myself down so this wasn’t all over before it began.

  “Fates, why does it feel like this?” Wren whispered, her voice cracking.

  “You know why,” I murmured against her lips, licking at them until she granted me entry. Her legs wrapped around my waist urging me to move, and I happily obliged, starting slowly and building momentum until all I could hear was the sound of Wren panting and the headboard smacking the wall.

  “Archer, Archer, Archer,” she chanted on a sob, her nails raking down my back deep enough to draw blood.

  “That’s it, Wren,” I urged her, grinding my pelvis against her clit. “Give me one more.”

  Wren threw her head back as she let go on an anguished cry. Her tight channel strangled my cock, and I buried my face in the crook of her neck as I found my release, rolling my lips in to prevent myself from giving in to my wolf and biting her. My canines were elongating, cutting into the inside of my mouth, saliva sweetening to prepare for the claiming bite. I squeezed my eyes shut as instinct rode me hard.

  Wren’s hand drifted up my back and found its way into my hair, gently running her fingers through my hair, stroking me until the claiming urge receded. I let out the breath I didn’t know I’d been holding, lifting myself up on my elbows to look at her.

  Her face was so unguarded, so innocent. I could see her trying to put her mask back into place, to cover the hint of vulnerability in her eyes.

  I knew what she needed. It was at the tip of my tongue, like it had been every time I’d talked to her, but my pride made me choke on the two words she needed to hear every time I tried to say them.

  Wren’s soulful, golden eyes searched mine, always seeing more than I wanted her to see. A wry smile twisted her lips, and I was sure it was because she knew exactly what I hadn’t been able to say. Knew that I’d both failed her and perfectly met her expectations of me in one fell swoop.

  “Well, you aren’t terrible in the sack,” Wren admitted, haughty expression firmly back in place as she pushed me off her. I rolled onto my side, but clamped an arm over her waist so she couldn’t run.

  “Nope,” she announced, wiggling out of my grasp and rolling smoothly off the bed, already reaching for her clothes. “We are not doing post-coital snuggles. This was great and all. I’ll be on my way now.”

  “Wren,” I sighed. She was already in her bra and panties and shimmying into her jeans. “Come on, little bird. You can stay the night. It doesn’t have to mean anything.” Though it totally would.

  “I’m glad to see that after months of ignoring me, you can in fact be a gentleman when you choose to be,” Wren shot back, pulling her top over her head. “I told you, this was a one-off thing.”

  “Do you still feel that way?” I challenged, propping myself up on my elbows and ignoring the accusatory glare she gave my very much ready-for-round-two cock.

  “Of course,” she snapped. Lie. The scent of it permeated the air, cutting through the smell of sex that I wanted to bottle and keep forever. My lips curled into a grin and Wren huffed in frustration. “I haven’t forgiven you.”

  “Sure you have.”

  “No, I haven’t. You’ve never even tried to get it. If you want my forgiveness, get on your knees and ask for it.”

  I scoffed at her deadly serious face. “I’m an alpha wolf, Wren. I don’t kneel for anyone.”

  Wren rolled her eyes, but not before I caught the flash of hurt on her face. Shit. Before I could say anything, she was already storming out of my room. A few seconds later I heard the front door slam shut.

  My phone dinged almost straight away. Miles’ name flashed on my screen. Poor guy was probably waiting outside in the cold for when it was safe to enter the house again. He’d be less appreciative of the smell.

  Miles:

  Want me to make sure she gets home okay?

  Archer:

  Thanks, bro. Don’t let her see you though. I’m not interested in finding out what castration feels like.

  My head fell back against the pillows with a thud, my eyes fixed to the shadows dancing across the ceiling. The entire room smelled of the combination of the two of us, it was sweet torture.

  If there was one thing tonight had taught me, it was that Wren wasn’t the kind of drug I could get out of my system. Now I had to make sure Wren found me just as addictive.

  Chapter 16

  Wren

  I kicked the blankets off me in a rage. Why were there blankets on me? It was a million degrees, sweat was pouring off my skin, and every part of my body was so itchy, it felt like I was wrapped in a cheap woolen blanket from head to toe.

  Shifters didn’t get sick like humans did. I’d never been less than one hundred percent healthy in my life. Maybe I’d been around humans for so long that their shitty immune system was rubbing off on me. Was this the flu? The flu made humans feel hot, right? Fates, I’d move my ass to Fortis Pack today if I’d started contracting human diseases.

  Or maybe Archer had broken me with his stupid, enormous, perfect cock and now I was dying.

  Ugh, why did you sleep with him, Wren? Way to hold out...

  Fortunately, it was my day off, and I had nothing to do today except catch up on laundry. Even that was optional. I hadn’t gotten to the emergency part of my wardrobe yet. I never might. The idea of ever putting clothes on my skin again made me shudder.

  Despite the freezing December weather, I changed into a pair of light cotton shorts and a tank top. My skin felt like magma. Was this what a fever felt like? Was it supposed to be everywhere? I swear, even my eyeballs felt warmer than usual. I shuffled downstairs to fill my stove-top coffee pot with grinds and set it going. When in doubt, coffee.

  I sat on a barstool at the island and laid my face against the cold c
ounter, groaning in relief. The blare of my ringing phone disturbed my snuggle session I was having with the formica countertop and I answered without checking the screen, shoving it against my ear with my eyes still shut.

  Ah, so cold. I groaned in appreciation as the cool glass phone screen touched my boiling hot ear.

  “Wren?” Madison’s puzzled voice came through the phone. “Are you okay? Big night last night?”

  “Hey Madison. I didn’t drink. I just feel… gross. Hot.”

  “Oh, are you sick?” Her voice raised in alarm. “Do you want soup or something? My mom always makes me canned chicken soup when I’m sick. I can come back to Carson, it’s only a couple of hours’ drive.”

  “No, no. It’s nearly Christmas, you need to stay with your family, Madison,” I said firmly, lest she get any ideas about spontaneously driving back to Carson to care for her Luna. “I’m going to head outside and get some fresh air. I’m sure that will make me feel better,” I replied, getting rid of her as politely as I could, because Fates, it was hot in here.

  “Oh, that’s great! Whatever makes you feel better is great!” Madison sang cheerfully. Her enthusiasm sort of made me hate her for a minute, even if it was in my honor.

  I made my coffee in a takeaway cup and headed back upstairs to freshen up and put on a few more clothes. I really didn’t want to add any more layers, but walking around naked in the middle of winter would raise some serious questions. I settled on a pair of leggings, a long-sleeve tunic and ballet flats. I’d still get some weird looks, but the idea of putting anything else on my skin was torture.

  I washed my face with the water as cold as I could get it and bundled my hair up in a messy bun on top of my head so it wasn’t touching my neck.

  What the hell was wrong with me?

  Grabbing my purse with my wallet, phone and keys, and my coffee cup in the other hand, I practically leaped out the front door to get out of the heated house. As soon as I felt the icy air on my skin, I sighed in relief. So much better.

  Coffee and fresh air would cure whatever was wrong with me, I was sure of it.