by Morgan Fox
He cocked his head. “Are you sure? I only want to if—”
Pulling him close, her belly swarmed with nerves. “Stop talking. Just kiss me.”
Gavin didn’t kiss her. At least not right away. He collected all of the blankets and pillows from the sofa and quickly made a soft pallet for her to lie on. Helping her scoot onto the blankets, he stopped to kick off his boots and unbutton his shirt.
She sucked in a breath as he shrugged himself free of the clothing, revealing a sexy and well sculpted body. Muscles and sinew stretched across broad shoulders, down a perfectly smooth chest to a narrow waist. Licking her lips, she wanted to glide her fingers and tongue over every inch of his gorgeous frame. Riddled with anxiety, her pussy clenched and a wild shiver prickled along her skin.
Kneeling beside her, he finished unbuttoning her blouse, and pulled the material free of her body. Her bra followed. The moment the cooler air touched her skin, gooseflesh erupted everywhere. But Gavin’s body quickly covered hers in a protective shield of heat and spice.
For her, it wasn’t the wolf that took away the cold that seeped into her bones. Gavin had done that. The closeness of his body, the fevered press of his lips against hers, and the warmth of his breath on her skin all revved her body up so much she was her own furnace.
Wedged wonderfully between her legs, he pushed back to rest his rear on his heels. His fingers worked the button and zipper on her jeans, tugging the denim down her legs. She arched her hips as he traced his hands over the waistband of her white silk panties. She studied him as he adored her. The wicked sight of him as he watched and devoured her with his eyes made her wetter than she’d ever been.
He tossed her panties on top of her jeans. Then he unbuttoned his own pants, and worked them past his hips, releasing a monstrous cock that only a man like Gavin could possess.
Her breath escaped her lungs and fear assaulted her. She calmed once he placed his hands on her bent knees and gently pressed them open. Kneeling forward, he placed his mouth at her parted legs and licked between the slick folds. An electric pulse, unlike anything she’d ever experienced before, shot through her. Sinking deeper, pressing her legs wider, he parted the folds of her pussy and clamped his lips around her throbbing clit.
She held her breasts in her hands, massaging the mounds and plucking at her nipples. A flood of euphoria rocked her senseless. Many times she’d brought herself to orgasm, but never once with a man’s mouth.
Gavin was the first man to taste her essence. Something primal sparked inside her. The feeling was earth-shattering.
Her body tingled and pulsed in the most delightful way. Wicked thoughts of lust-filled nights of pleasure with Gavin consumed her. Propping her head up, she watched as he feasted, licking and tasting her. His tongue surged deep inside her as his fingers rubbed and swirled over the sensitive bud.
Every nerve ending in her body flickered wildly. She was going to come. The raw need inside her head told her she was close and as long as Gavin continued ravaging her pussy, she was going to explode.
Then it happened. Crying out, she found her release. The world around her shattered into a million pieces and nothing but Gavin mattered anymore. Her body jolted and bucked as she rode the pleasure he gave her.
When she gazed down at him this time, he was hungrily staring up at her. Groaning, he sucked her clit one final time and like a primal beast crawled up her body.
Trembling with anticipation, she pulled him down to kiss her, tasting herself on his lips. His thick cock slid enticingly over her clit and then nudged at the entrance. He slowly pressed his shaft into her pussy and the moment he surged deep, she hissed at the stinging pain.
“Oh, God!”
Gavin’s eyes swelled as he held her gaze. “Are you all right, Shadow?” he breathed.
She closed her eyes and nodded.
“I didn’t mean to hurt you.” There was genuine unease in his voice. “I could’ve gone slower.”
Would it have mattered?
She rolled her eyes at him and asked, “What would that have done?”
He looked destroyed, like he’d suspected she thought he’d set out to cause her pain. “I don’t know, but I would’ve done things differently.”
I wouldn’t have changed a thing. “Oh really, and what would you have done differently?”
He sighed, lowering his forehead to hers. “I don’t know. I’m not exactly a small man, you know.”
“I’m small, you’re not.” Smiling, she cupped his face in her hands. “This was what I wanted, Gavin.” She hardened her gaze, wrapping her legs around his waist, and slowly arched her hips.
A long moment passed before he moved his hips, driving his cock deeper inside her. She rolled her pelvis, and pulled her feet down against his firm ass.
“I won’t break, Gavin,” she breathlessly told him. “I promise.”
The muscles in his arms, shoulders, and neck strained. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
Her heart skipped. “I appreciate that, but how do you feel about pissing me off?” She glared at him and raised her head to kiss him.
He began drilling into her, slow and steady. Staring at her, his pace quickened. His gaze never left her face as if to verify he wasn’t doing anything she didn’t want. She planted her feet onto the floor and with the strength of her wolf, flipped them over so Gavin was now lying on his back and she was straddling him.
“Perhaps you’d feel better if I did the thrusting,” she teased and began rolling her hips and arching her back.
Please let me have this one moment.
Gavin groaned, taking hold of her hips as she slid down his shaft. He reached up and pulled her forward so he could suck on her breasts, biting playfully at her nipples, driving his pelvis up in time to meet her downward decent.
A powerful instinct called to her to move to her hands and knees and allow Gavin to take her in the most primal and raw way, but she ignored it. She wanted sex with Gavin. That was all. She hadn’t imagined the connection between them would be so puissant.
Gavin Ford is my chosen mate.
She quickly shook the thought away.
Her pussy tingled as his cock tunneled against her inner walls, sliding in and out in a fevered pace. Before she could blink, she was shuddering, coming in a blinding force. Her nails dug into his chest as she moaned in pleasure. A few seconds later, Gavin bucked his hips, pulling her off of him. Cock in his hand, he stroked himself to release, coming on the blanket beside them.
Unsure of what to say, she rolled to the side and grabbed another blanket, wrapping it around her. Gavin scooted into a sitting position near her, his breathing shallow.
As they finished, the rain and wind outside seemed to slow down. The storm no longer sounded violent as if nature’s fury was going to rip the roof clear off the cabin. Then as if on cue, the lights flickered back on.
She could see the gears working behind his eyes. She knew he’d felt the compulsion to claim her. But like her he hadn’t acted on it. Truth was Gavin could have easily overpowered her. She didn’t know why he hadn’t, but she was grateful he hadn’t forced her.
For years, she’d wanted nothing but to get away from Silent Falls. That’s why she’d avoided anything that would cause her to want to stay. Gavin Ford was the one thing she feared most.
“Will you be heading back now?”
He glanced over at her, his brows tightly pinched together. “Did you want me to leave?”
Shit. Why had she asked that? Couldn’t she give him time to catch his breath before letting the awkwardness settle over them? “I didn’t mean it like that.”
Didn’t I?
Gavin frowned. She glanced away from him, unable to meet his inquiring gaze. She heard him abruptly shove to his feet and search for his clothes. Out of the corner of her eye, she watched him dress as if the room was engulfed in flames.
She rose to stand beside him, his back to her. She reached out and touched his arm. “Gavin, please don’t be a
ngry.”
He lowered his head. “Shadow, was this all a mistake?” He inclined his head to gaze at her from over his shoulder. “Did it mean anything to you?”
She momentarily closed her eyes, letting the words knock around in her head. How was she supposed to answer that? She didn’t want him to think it was a mistake. In her eyes it was exactly what she wanted, but deep in her soul she knew what he meant. He wanted his mate and she wasn’t able to be that for him.
“Gavin?” Her chest squeezed tight.
He shook off her touch. “Never mind,” he snapped through clenched teeth. “The storm sounds like it’s weakening and morning is nearly here. I need to go check on how Silent Falls fared through the night.”
He stalked to the door and put on his coat and Stetson. He opened the door and fled, not looking back to see the tears welling in her eyes. The bright red glow of Gavin’s taillights was a reminder of the anger she’d seen firing in his gaze. Her belly rolled with guilt and her eyes stung with more tears. Covering her face in her hands, she was suddenly more alone than she’d ever been. But wasn’t that what she wanted?
A piece of her soul was splintering off and she knew she had no one to blame but herself. Her wolf recognized Gavin, wanted him to claim her, but even knowing that, she hadn’t begged him to stay. Gavin could’ve offered her a life, love, and happiness. Everything all women, especially lycans, craved.
Her resistance to him sent her wolf spiraling out of control in her mind. Her body, heart, and soul were at war and staring after him was like watching the essences of herself vanish.
What if she’d just blown her chance with the one man that cared for her? Gavin had been there for her even when she’d treated him the worst. She expected him to be there. But how long was he willing to stay? What have I done?
With a pain-drenched heart, she prayed she hadn’t made the biggest mistake of her life.
Chapter 2
As the second round of storms began to pummel the world around him, Julian watched through the window as Shadow paced her living room. The hard rains and untamed winds were ferocious, bending the trees that surrounded her home to a point that he wondered how long it would be before they snapped in half.
With the wave of his hand, he reinforced the trees, setting up an invisible barrier of magic to protect her home from falling debris.
For as long as he could remember, he’d kept Shadow safe. It was a need that burned deep in his soul.
Everything inside him screamed that something was wrong. He could feel how alone and scared she was. He knew better than anyone that even though the beautiful doctor appeared confident and fearless, she was vulnerable and afraid.
What Julian hadn’t expected was to come upon her with another man. A lycan. Julian’s link with Shadow hadn’t prepared him for that. His gut knotted and the pull of his magic pulsed through him with waves of unease. Jealousy reared its ugly head, churning like lava through his veins. His mind was fixed on the wolf he wished to follow but wasn’t allowed to. He didn’t have the power, and now more than anything, he wished he did. He orbed to her and as their eyes locked, her breath hitched.
“Julian?” she gasped, wiping away the tears that stained her cheeks.
He couldn’t speak. He hadn’t realized just how much he cared for Shadow until the moment he witnessed her desire for another.
His people would never understand how he’d let his bride slip through his fingers. He would be the shame of his family, a prince without a bride, rejected and abandoned.
It’s not supposed to be this way. She’s supposed to be mine.
His fisted hands rested against the soft, tan fabric of his pants. “Am I interrupting?” His tone was cold, his words clipped.
She shook her head, turning away from him. She wrapped the blanket tighter around her and moved into the kitchen. The soft sway of her hips drew him in. Her wild flower scent beckoned him.
Closing his eyes, Julian struggled for the power to keep his emotions in check. He kept his distance. The sofa separated them as he watched her grab a glass of water and quickly drink it down. The warmth of the fire tingled along his rain dampened skin.
He inhaled deeply as Shadow made her way to stand in front of him. “This is not a good time,” she said, her voice shaking.
I don’t need you to tell me that.
He arched a brow, watching the heat of emotions burn from her eyes.
She retreated back to the kitchen, bracing herself against the counter. “Julian,” she breathed. “I need some time alone. You should go.”
“No,” he said, frowning.
Her mouth gaped in surprise. “You’re wasting your time here. I don’t want to talk.”
He folded his arms over his chest defiantly. “Would you prefer we sit in silence?” He wasn’t backing down and he sure wasn’t leaving. How could he?
Shadow stiffened, tugging at the blanket that did little to cover her long, lean legs. “I’d prefer that you—”
He shook his head sharply. “No,” he growled. “Stop trying to send me away.”
Thrusting her hands into the air, Shadow growled in annoyance. “What is it with you men and the need to suffocate me?”
Suffocate her?
His heart sank. In all their time together, he’d never imagined that she’d see him as a nuisance. Their time together had always been because she needed him, wanted him close.
She doesn’t appear to need me now. “Please tell me you are referring to the lycan that just left?”
Her lips pressed into a tight line, her nostrils flaring at the mention of the other man. “Gavin is just a friend.”
“Do you fuck most of your friends?” He shrugged. “I’m afraid I didn’t take advantage of that benefit.” Jealousy knocked the wind from his gut. “Unless…for whatever reason, I don’t count as your friend.”
“Julian?” she gasped. “Don’t do this. Not now.”
He crowded her, stepping close enough that it forced her to angle her chin up to keep his gaze. “I know that you slept with that lycan and I can’t say I’m sad that he left.” He swallowed hard, curiosity overcoming him. “What happened between you?”
Shadow backed up a step. “It’s a long story.”
He closed the distance again. His chest broadened with each inhalation of breath, dangerously close to hers. “One I have plenty of time to hear.”
She pressed her hand to his chest to keep him from coming closer. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
Her touch was warm against his bare flesh. “Would you prefer I pulled the information from you?” His fingers tingled, itching to caress the sides of her temples. He could discover everything he needed with a simple touch.
Her eyes rounded. “You wouldn’t.”
“I would,” he said plainly, arching his brow.
Shadow’s eyes reddened with unspent tears. “Julian, why are you doing this to me?”
His chest burned. His heart beat so fast he feared she could hear it. In all his life, he’d never been jealous of anything or anyone. But judging his reaction to the wolf, he was definitely feeling it now.
Julian wasn’t eager to race into battle. He was more of a diplomat. But he would do anything to protect what rightly belonged to him. A feeling of territorial aggression consumed him. He ground his teeth together, annoyed that he was responding like a human.
“Funny, I think I should be the one asking you that question.”
Eyes wide, Shadow rounded, putting her back to him. The tension oozing from her body warned him to tread lightly. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
He closed his eyes, fighting to suppress his rampant emotions. He reached for her, placing his hands on her shoulders. “Until recently you used to share everything with me. What’s changed?” He gently rubbed her arms, encouraging her to turn and face him. He brushed his knuckles over the soft skin of her cheek. “What are you hiding from me?”
Her gaze drifted downward. His stomach rolled
as she began to sob. Inwardly groaning, he hated that the woman he cared for was burdened with tears. Shame and guilt sank into the pit of his stomach.
Pulling her into his arms, he whispered, “I’m here for you, Shadow. I’ll always be here.” His chest tightened. He didn’t want to see her cry. “I’m sorry. I never should’ve pried.”
Sniffling, she eased back, finally meeting his gaze. “No, it’s not that.” She wiped her eyes. “I don’t even know why I’m crying.”
Julian cocked his head to the side. “Does it have anything to do with Gavin?” Yes, he knew the lycan’s name.
Shadow frowned. “Maybe a little.”
As much as he would wish to deny it, Julian knew who Gavin was. He’d grown up with Shadow and her sister. But Julian hadn’t seen Shadow care one way or the other about Gavin. He seemed to be glued to Silence and that had worked well for Julian. Being replaced by someone from her world had always been Julian’s fear. He never would’ve been able to compete against the mating call of one of her kind.
His body grew rigid. “I think it has a lot to do with him.” His magic sizzled at the back of his mind like lightning in a storm.
Shadow blinked away her unspent tears. “Why do you say that?”
Julian’s gaze moved to the front door. Everything inside him jumped into high alert. “Because he’s about to blast his way back in.”
On his words, the door practically exploded. The large lycan stalked inside the house, his silver eyes seeking him out. Julian knew things were about to get ugly. He only prayed that Shadow wouldn’t hate him if he killed the crazed son of a bitch.
* * * *
Shadow exhaled hard as Gavin stalked back into her home. His broad shoulders grazed the doorframe as he crossed the threshold. His penetrating gaze devoured her, shifting only to glare at Julian.
“Gavin, what are you doing?”
Gavin’s gaze swept over the woodsy scented fae male. His long, golden white hair shined bright even in the dark of night. His bare chest was an unwelcomed sight as Shadow stood close to him still wearing nothing but the blanket he’d made love to her on.
