by Louisa Bacio
The tone of his voice moved over her body, eliciting a physical response. Her nipples perked up, and the weight of his gaze settled on her chest, which just about floated on the water. Feeling uncharacteristically self-conscious, she dipped below.
“Ah, perceptive. I’m Sugar,” she said. “I’m staying with my brother Yas and Tala at the B&B.”
“Is Sugar short for anything?” he asked.
“You mean like “Sugar-licious?” She licked her lips, overemphasizing the way she ran her tongue over the full bottom one. The way his eyes zeroed in on her mouth gave her a thrill.
Men were so obvious.
His eyes were almost as blue as the sky, and under the moonlight, it was as if the goddess of the night reflected in his pupils. Sugar got drawn into his aura, mesmerized by his damn sexiness. She was looking for a place to hide out for a few weeks, maybe a month tops. The last thing she needed to do was hook up with a local boy and start more trouble.
If her dating history proved anything, it was that she didn’t have the best taste in men. She went for fun rather than long-term. Something about the idea of settling down and shacking up disturbed her. She couldn’t see being faithful to one man for eternity. No one held her attention for long enough. By the time one guy thought he’d fallen in “love” with her, she’d already moved on to someone else. Sometimes, she forgot to tell them, and that made them mad.
The steam from the hot springs rose around their bodies. Despite the temperature of the water, Sugar shivered. Lightning cracked across the sky, and Derek slung his arm around her shoulders.
“Don’t be afraid. I’ll make sure you’re all right,” he said.
It was a forward move to make after knowing her for mere minutes. Something about the night and environment made it seem all right. How often had people met up at places like this one in order to find a little comfort and pleasure?
“Who’s going to protect me from you?’ she asked. Underneath the water, she smoothed her foot up over his calf.
He laughed. “I’m sure your brother warned you about coming here. That all the boys would have untoward thoughts about you.”
Where their legs touched sparked in a different way. Maybe he could be the one. How many times had she fooled herself into thinking that? That this time might be different than the last? That this guy could hold her attention? Physical attraction alone didn’t equate to a long-lasting relationship.
“What makes you think that wasn’t the plan?”
The banter lightened her mood. Nothing like the attention from a hot male to make her feel better and forget about all other worries.
He threw her off her game plan of no attachments. Plus, seeing her brother all settled and happy did something to her. One day. So far, she liked the idea of being with this pack and around others like her. If she weren’t careful, it would grow on her.
She never thought about what was better for a pack, only herself. Well, that charity of thought extended out to her family of her mom and Yas, too. For so long, it had only been the three of them. Mom swore—still—never to return to Los Lobos. While Sugar and Yas were young enough that the old memories had faded, the trauma was still too fresh for their mom. Maybe someday, she’d be persuaded to visit. But it was as if she thought if she stepped foot in the small town, she’d either be chased out or held captive and never be allowed to leave.
Derek played with the tendrils of her hair floating on the water. “Anyone ever tell you how soft your hair is? It’s as silky as spun…sugar.”
Right, as if he was the first to come up with a similar line. With a name like hers, she’d heard them all and then some.
“Really?” She unraveled the rest of her ponytail, letting the blonde waves pool around her shoulders, and batted her eyelashes at him. “Do you think I’m pretty?”
“Pretty? Dayum! You’re gorgeous. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a girl, excuse me, woman, as good-looking as you ever,” he said, tunneling his fingers through her hair.
The slight pressure on the back of her head increased and he angled in for a kiss. Beneath the water, he ran his other hand up her thigh, and she startled, as he moved his fingers upward.
“Not so fast,” she said. “We barely know each other.”
“I feel like I’ve been looking for you my entire life,” he said.
Not another one. What was it about her? Some men got completely drawn in, and fast. Must have something to do with her pheromones, but it was almost impossible to figure out if a guy truly liked her or if it was simply her hormones going crazy.
What the hell? What would one little kiss hurt?
With her hand covering his on her leg, she leaned in, softly brushing her lips against his. All around them the storm raged, but it felt like they were in their magical world, protected.
The sounds cut out and all her senses turned inward. The smooth silky feel of his tongue caressing hers. The slight scruff of his evening facial hair scraping across her cheek. The breeze picking up where water had splashed on exposed parts of her body.
He wound his other hand into her hair and held her tight as they kissed, losing all the past experiences. All that mattered was right now, this feeling, and the moon hanging in the first quarter. Pretty soon, it would be Winter Solstice, and maybe she needed a rebirth.
***
The silkiness of her hair floated in the hot springs water, as if reaching out its tendrils to touch his bare shoulder. He took it as a sign. She may not know she was opening herself up to a new adventure, but that’s how he read it. He ran his fingers across her bare shoulders and down her arm, loving the feel of her skin.
Soft lips pressed against his, and he walked the tightrope between wanting more, now, and not wanting to scare her away. Despite the pure sexuality she possessed—tucked into that teeny-tiny cute bathing suit—her movements were skittish. Like she wasn’t sure if she could trust him.
Best intentions aside, his cock ignored all common sense and popped up, demanding all sorts of attention. He ignored the growing pressure in his trunks and focused on the woman in his arms. She broke the connection first.
“Maybe it’s time I should be heading back,” she said. “My brother is going to be waiting up for me, even though there’s no need.”
“The night’s still early yet,” Derek coaxed. “You don’t need to run away from this big, bad wolf yet. I won’t eat you.”
He let the double entendre float out there, until she flushed the prettiest shade of pink. Oh, what he would do to dip below the waters and taste her.
Not very gentlemanly. He subdued his desires. Nope, no scaring this one off so fast. Instead, he aimed to seduce, entwine, and entice.
“Any idea how gorgeous you are beneath this moon?” he asked. “Tell me, what was your life like back in the city? Did you ever see this many stars?”
She reclined, stretching out that delicate neck, and gazed upward. The exact position he’d hoped to achieve. “When there’s a lot of lights in the city, it’s harder to see the stars.” Her voice took on a wistful note. “Sure, we’re not that impacted. There are some wide-open spaces, but nothing like this. The sky here is a dream. Never in my wildest imagination…. Well, you know.”
All around them, Derek and his brother Tyler had watched the revitalization of Los Lobos. For so long, everything stayed the same. They’d both grown up in the pack, and their pa did a few things he wouldn’t be proud of these days. But, ultimately, they’d survived, and now it was time to thrive.
“Actually, I don’t. I’ve never left Los Lobos. Sure, maybe I’ve run outside the boundaries a few times, but visit a big city?” He shook his head, trying to imagine it. “Well, for the longest time, we weren’t really able to travel outside our boundaries. It was kind of like visiting Cuba. Some people did it, but if they were caught, they were looked at like deserters or traitors of some sort. And then the punishment would come.”
Sugar shivered and ran her hands
up over her arms. Then he remembered she was from a relocated family. They’d run from the violence in the pack, only for her brother to forge new bonds a few months prior.
Way to put his foot in it.
“Once you leave, it’s hard to come back,” she said, seemingly to virtually step over his indiscretion.
Besides being the “new girl” in town, what made her so attractive? Under the light, Derek evaluated her. On the surface, yes, she was definitely appealing. The type of woman who could easily be featured in a magazine, not high fashion, but certainly Playboy. Growing up on a farm-like plot, he shouldn’t be attracted to someone like her. He needed to land a woman who could handle herself in nature and run the behind-the-scenes required. She’d break a nail trying to open one of the distilleries. But, still, the deviation proved to be a draw.
The sound of laughter grew nearer, and through the darkness, a few others walked up the hill toward the hot springs.
“Hey, any room in there?” one guy called out.
“Sure, the more the merrier,” Sugar said, scooting closer to him.
He’d much rather be alone with her, but he’d take the physical proximity.
As the others settled into the water, he recognized Ford and Caress. She’d come this past year with her two brothers, and while she was hot and acted fast, he also saw her as trouble. Funny, then, what was it about Sugar?
She probably welcomed the intruders. This way, she wouldn’t have to deal with him alone.
The newly mated couple settled in the spot across from them. “Glad to see you made it here,” she said to Sugar, “and found a friend so quickly.”
“What can I say? I’m friendly,” Sugar said.
“Remember my warning. Trouble,” Caress said, eyeballing Derek. “This here is my mate, Ford.” She pushed him down and planted herself on his lap. The man gave Sugar a sheepish smile and nod, and then focused on his lover. Right away, they started making out. Caress sat on Ford’s lap, kissing and groping, and damn near making him blush. Derek made eye contact with Sugar, and her eyebrows rose, before she glanced at the other couple. Yep, that was the main reason why young folk came to the hot springs. It was an unsaid agreement. They could blow off steam, make out and then some, all without being worried about information getting back to the wrong people.
“Is everyone in this town mated?” she asked under her breath. “I left home to get away from the pheromones.”
“Lately, it’s seemed like that.” Derek slid his hand up her silky thigh. “But after the pack being dormant for so long, it’s nice to see. There are still plenty of single members, including me. I don’t plan on getting tied down so soon.”
“Why’s that?”
The blue of her eyes sparkled with a natural glow, and he lost his train of thought. Being with her for this short expanse of time made him question his intentions. What would be so bad about being committed to a woman like her?
“Then I’d lose the opportunity to meet someone like you, on a night like tonight. You never know what the universe will bring.”
“So the potential of the unknown is more alluring than the potential of the known?”
“That’s not what I meant,” he backpedaled. Maybe he’d read her wrong. Being out here, alone together, she’d seemed open to play. He preferred no strings. Usually.
“As I was saying, it’s getting late,” Sugar said.
Somewhere in the distance, a wolf howled. One of the protectors, most likely, out patrolling the land, making sure everyone was safe. Derek reached out, running his hand along Sugar’s arm, connecting the water dots. “Don’t go yet. I’m enjoying spending time with you.”
Her lips parted, and she took a deep breath. Derek watched her chest lift on inhale and go down on exhale. His gaze focused on her lips. So luscious and waiting. He leaned in, and she followed, mere inches apart until they touched. Skin upon skin. Mouth upon mouth, and then he lost himself in the sensation.
From the touching point of their lips, sensations traveled through her whole body. He moaned, wrapping one hand over her hip and tugging her closer. Devouring. That’s how she thought of his kisses. Everything else fell away.
“Hey, you two, get a room,” the guy across from them catcalled.
Right. As if they weren’t just putting on quite the peep show. A little tit for tat. As good a time as any to get back home and away from the temptation the hunk next to her stimulated.
“Really, I should be going.”
Passion clouded Derek’s eyes. “Let me walk you back,” he said, moving away. He leaned over the side to grab a towel and her sarong, showing off the sexiness of his lower back and ass. She averted her eyes, but not before Caress caught her checking out the goods. The other woman raised her eyebrows.
“That’s not necessary,” Sugar said, taking her wrap from him and toweling off. The air outside the water felt warm after her body was heated in the springs. “The key is to get back as fast as possible, before the cold sets in again.”
“Oh, I insist.” He tied his towel around his waist and slipped his hand behind her back to help guide her. Just what she needed her brother to see, her coming up with this hunk. She’d never hear the end of it.
The walk back didn’t take too long, and Sugar stopped him where the property merged with the street. Maybe Yas wouldn’t be waiting up for her, and she’d sneak in without him being any wiser.
“I’m sure glad you came out,” Derek said. “Kind of weird to think that before this, I’d never met you.”
The wistful nature of his voice tugged at her heart. “You’re sweet, do you know that?”
“Sure. Don’t let that information get out, or it will ruin my reputation,” he teased.
“Yeah, well, your bringing me home so late is going to ruin mine.”
“Good,” he said. “That means you’ll be all mine for the taking then.”
At the word “taking,” his voice dropped deeper, and a flash of anticipation tightened in her core. Despite what her brain told her, her body knew she’d know this man intimately before too long. There would be no doubts about their future together. The question was, how far would it go?
Lightly, he brushed his lips against hers. “Good night.”
“Have a good one.”
In her peripheral vision, she caught him watching her the entire way up the path. On the porch, Sugar caught a glimpse of movement of the curtain. Great, someone had been looking out, which probably meant dear older brother was still awake.
She stilled herself for a potential confrontation and turned the doorknob. Thank God he at least hadn’t locked her out.
He sat on the couch, feet up, reading a book. “Have a good night?” he asked, as nonchalantly as possible. As if it wasn’t well past a decent hour to be home.
“You could say that.” She stifled a yawn, tiredness settling in. “If you don’t mind, I’m heading up.”
“See that’s the thing. I kinda do mind. Not only have you been running around for hours, and made me stay out of a warm bed with my mate, but I talked to Mom. How come you didn’t tell me she had no idea you were coming here for the holidays?”
Already? Word travels fast.
“How did Mom find out?”
“Well, believe it or not, I actually talk to our mother on a regular basis. Little did I know when I mentioned that you’d arrived safe and sound, and asked her if she wanted to join us for Winter Solstice, that she would absolutely flip out on me.”
“I kinda didn’t tell her I was coming.”
Yas crossed his arms and gave her the “big brother” look she knew all too well. He wasn’t her father. He had no right to tell her what to do. She was about good and ready to tell him exactly that when common sense took over. Since she was staying at his house, she ought to give him a bit of respect.
“Listen, I knew she’d make a big deal out of it,” she explained. “But after you decided to stay here, I wanted to come see
Los Lobos for myself. With my schedule at school, this break was the best time. Sure, I should have told her, but come on. We both know how she was going to react.”
“Pfft.” He brushed off her comments. “So instead you let me take the brunt of her anger? Thanks a lot.”
Situation defused for now. The tangible conflict in the air dissipated, and Yas opened his mouth, “Listen….”
“Honey, are you coming back to bed?” From upstairs, Tala called down. Sugar could have kissed her!
“I’ll be right there,” he replied. “Seeing how you have all this free time, tomorrow I’m going to bring you by our old place. I’ve been restoring it, and it needs the extra help. Plus, it seems like you need to keep busy to stay out of trouble. Get some rest.”
“Great,” she said, feeling anything but excited at the prospect. Manual labor. He still knew exactly how to punish her.
Chapter Three
A heightened sense of the upcoming holidays and Winter Solstice celebrations spread through the main drag. Tyler whistled as he walked through town on the way to a job. Yas needed help renovating his family home, and, while he didn’t know a lot about building, he certainly could tear things down.
He’d never visited the Big Apple, but he’d seen pictures of it on television, and the big holiday to-do with the dancing Rockettes. Maybe, now the town was being revitalized, they’d see some productions come out of the schoolhouse.
On the other side of town, he turned onto a path that appeared to be freshly maintained. Someone had trimmed the brush on either side, regraded the dirt, and shoveled snow off the walkway making it easier to maneuver. The gate to the front yard swung open with ease, not like it had been rusted shut after being abandoned. Likewise, the weeds had been mowed and picked to give the appearance of an actual yard. The sound of voices—a man’s and a woman’s—carried from inside.
“Hello,” Ty called, not wanting to startle them. “Ready to get started, Yas.”
The woman who stepped out the front door looked nothing like the guy he’d been expecting. He had second thoughts once his friend strode out and stood next to her. Their facial features and coloring were quite similar. But she possessed all sorts of curves in a pair of tight faded jeans and a soft-looking, body-clinging sweatshirt, and her lush blonde, curly hair made Ty fist his hands to keep from reaching out. When she saw him, her eyes widened and she smiled, as if she knew him.
