“It got so cold,” she said and curled in closer to him.
“The winds picked up. And rushing headlong into it doesn’t help.” He embraced her more tightly. “Come on, I know just the thing to warm you up.”
She pulled her head back and peered at him with a questioning look that had a hint of naughtiness. “Oh? That sounds—promising.”
He laughed. “I was thinking of a hot cocoa with Bailey’s inside the lodge.” He cocked his head. “But I’m sure I can find another way,” he added in a suggestive tone.
The smile she flashed had a hint of a sensual gleam. “Let’s start with a hot drink.”
Anticipation built within him. She hadn’t shot him down—unless he was misreading the conversation. Could this be the night?
After he dropped off the snow tube, Rafe slung his arm around her waist as they headed down to the lodge. He couldn’t get enough of touching her.
That longing to be near her continued inside. Instead of sitting opposite her at a table, he found a cozy nook beside the fire where they could sit on a bench side-by-side.
“This is nice.” She held her mug in both hands and sipped from it. “Not a bad spot to warm up.”
Now that Rafe had visions of another way he could heat their bodies, it’s all he could think of. They drank their hot drinks in front of the fire, thighs touching as they lingered until last call.
Once they left the pub, Rafe walked her back to the hotel. He didn’t want to leave her. The way she gazed at him with that sparkle of desire gleaming in her eyes indicated she might feel the same way.
His gaze lowered to her pink lips, and he ached to taste them once more.
Do it, his impatient wolf urged. “Good night, Mila.”
Her lips parted. “Good night.”
Sensuality pulsed between them until Rafe couldn’t think about anything else. He cupped her face with both hands before he leaned down and kissed her. She sighed against his mouth and then leaned into him as she kissed him back.
Desire clouded every thought. It didn’t matter whose daughter she was in that moment. All he wanted was to be with her.
He pulled back a few inches and stared into her beautiful eyes. “If we’re going to do this, we’re going to do this right.”
She furrowed her brows. “What does that mean?”
“It means forget this hotel. You stay in my house with me.”
Chapter 10
Mila
Although clouded by lust, a flicker of triumph pulsed through Mila’s brain. She never dreamed that Rafe would invite her to stay with him in his house. The access to him would be unprecedented. The information she could gain would be so valuable to her pack.
“It’s the only way we’ll get this out of our system,” she replied to Rafe.
His hungry eyes gleamed with a feral golden glint that sent a bolt of heat down to her core.
He moaned in an agreeable tone and ran his fingers over the side of her neck and over her shoulder. “Yes, we need to give our wolves what they crave.”
Her wolf moaned inside, intrigued by the promise of pleasure.
To avoid any miscommunication about the future, Mila added, “And after this week, we each go our own ways.”
Her wolf growled in protest.
Rafe stared at her with a penetrating gaze as if searching her true feelings. “That’s the only way.” His voice lowered to a husky rasp that stuck a sensual chord within her.
Mila stepped away from him and tried to clear her brain of the growing lust before it consumed her. “I should get my stuff from upstairs.”
He nodded and his gaze raked down her body. “I’ll take care of checking you out of your room.”
* * *
Mila’s breath came quick and hard as she rushed up to her floor, and she doubted it had anything to do with taking the stairs. A part of her knew her plans to spy on Rafe in his home was wrong. She wanted Rafe and not just sexually. The truth was she’d enjoyed spending time with him. He had a way of making her feel protected and cared for, and never so much as when he’d held her in his arms. No one else had ever made her feel that way before, and she didn’t want to give up that comforting security just yet.
She reached her door and swiped the room key, forcing herself to push away the chaos in her head. All she wanted was to feel more of that wonderful sensation that happened when their bodies touched. That was all she cared about tonight. She’d worry about the pack and her agenda tomorrow.
Mila entered her room and quickly stuffed her minimal belongings into her bag. She gazed at herself in the mirror. Her reflection stared back with a flushness in her cheeks and excited glimmer in her eyes. She rushed back down to the lobby, eager to see Rafe again. When she returned, he stood near the reservations desk. When their eyes met, his darkened with a smoldering intensity that burned bright as he walked over to her.
He offered to take her bag. “Are you ready?”
A wild thrill of anticipation danced inside. “I am.”
“All right, let’s go.” He took her hand in his, which did nothing to calm the excitement that grew inside her.
She attempted to calm the rising desire as they walked out of the hotel and across the street. He led her to a road that snaked up the side of the mountain. They passed several cabins on either side of them. The higher they descended, the nicer the homes.
“Let me guess, yours is at the top,” she said.
He squeezed her hand and flashed her a devilish grin. “A benefit of being the alpha.”
She tilted her head in acknowledgment. “Any drawbacks?”
The smile vanished and his mouth formed a grim line. “There are always advantages and disadvantages to any situation, don’t you think?”
She shrugged. “I suppose.”
Rafe fixed his gaze on the road ascending before them. “I guess that’s where your father and I might have some similarities. Ensuring the safety of the pack. The pressure to lead. And in my case, I have the resort as well. The shifters in my pack rely on the success of our business to provide for themselves and their families. The responsibility rests on me to make sure that we succeed.” He cocked his head and grinned. “Fortunately, I have a financial genius helping me in those matters.”
Her ears perked. “Grayson?”
“Yes. I don’t know what I’d do without him.”
Mila filed that piece of information away, reason piercing through her lust. If her pack could get to Grayson, it would be a devastating blow to Rafe.
A swell of guilt followed. He just told her how many shifters relied on him to survive. She’d been intent on ruining operations over here, believing in her father’s dictate that the Franconia shifters were evil. Was that the case, though? Grayson and Aurora had seemed decent. And Rafe? She didn’t know where to begin when it came to understanding her confusing reaction to him.
As they continued walking, she glanced into the forests. Was the Franconia pack’s lifestyle as different as she’d once thought? Many built their homes surrounded by nature, the same as her pack. She gazed back to glance at the village and all the developments there. Her pack had not bulldozed land for commercial sprawl, but perhaps she didn’t know all the details. Rafe and Grayson both mentioned how they’d adopted an environmental mindset, choosing green energy whenever possible. Taking all that into consideration, was it right to want to destroy them?
Mila wasn’t so sure anymore.
That burning for vengeance had dimmed since she’d arrived here and spent time with Rafe. Would it eventually be snuffed out?
Enough questioning. All she wanted was to feel. All she wanted was one night with Rafe and she would think again tomorrow. They reached the end of the road and faced an impressive A-frame home with gray stone surrounded by trees.
Rafe declared, “We’re home.”
Home, she repeated in her head. It had such a nice sound to it. But it wasn’t her home. It was just a temporary place for her to sleep while they finished out their w
eek together.
And then what—she carried out her plan to defeat him and his pack?
Rafe
Rafe’s heart pounded as he opened the door and welcomed Mila inside. Inviting her here meant more than just bringing a woman home to spend a night with him. He was inviting his mate into his home. Even if this was temporary and they could never have anything between them other than a torrid fling, that connection between them was palpable and impossible to dismiss.
After she entered, he closed the door behind them and hung their coats on the coat rack near the door.
She glanced around and his gazed followed, seeing his home from her eyes. The open plan spread out with a sitting area in front of a fireplace and then a round oak dining table that separated it from the kitchen with all the high-end appliances he rarely used.
“It’s so nice in here. And huge.” She turned to him with a questioning look. “You live here alone?”
“I do.” How do two short words sound so odd, strangled? He bent and removed his boots and placing them on a boot tray.
“It seems so much for one person.” She took off her boots and put them beside his.
His gaze locked on the boots lined up side by side. That’s how it should be with his mate sharing his home. They’d warm up together in the comfort of their home here in the mountains.
Rafe cleared his throat. “It is too much space for me, but I hope to have a family one day.” Revealing that to her struck him with a pang reminding him of his vulnerability around her. “What about you?”
She caught his gaze and the vulnerability in her eyes appeared to reflect his. She broke eye contact and stepped over to the window that faced out over to the mountain. “One day.”
With whom? Lars? Rafe curled his hands into fists at his side. Picturing Mila having a family with anyone else stabbed him with agony.
Damn, what was wrong with him? He had no rights over her and yet jealousy already twisted him inside. She’d told him that her time here was temporary—that they were temporary.
Still, he had her now, and he didn’t plan to waste the opportunity, not after all the pining that had built up over the past few days.
Rafe put background music on low and the sound of an orchestra surrounded them. Then he stepped behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, following her gaze out the window. Not much was visible at this time of the night beyond the outlines of the trees.
“What are you thinking about?” he asked before he nuzzled her neck.
She turned over her shoulder and gazed at him with a small smile that had a hint of sadness. “Too many things. And I don’t want to think anymore.”
Having her so close in his arms, wrapped in her scent, entranced him. He swallowed and then ran his hand down the side of her body. “What do you want, Mila?” His voice sounded husky.
She sighed and then leaned back against him. “More of this.”
He ran his hand back up her torso and cupped one of her breasts. A potent shot of desire raced through him.
She moaned. “Yes, just like that.”
As if he needed more of a reason to touch her. That slight contact drove him near mad with the need for more. He couldn’t get enough of touching her. Would he ever?
His cock twitched and blood rushed between his legs. He kissed her neck, trying to ignore the itch of his fangs poking out of his gums as he burned with the desperate need to claim her as his. He couldn’t do that without her consent, and she’d made it clear that their time together had an expiration date. That meant they would not be mated, despite the overpowering instinct to be with her.
Wait, what was he thinking? He didn’t want that either. All he needed was to sleep with her, and that was it. A night together would take care of the agonizing curiosity, making it easier to get her out of his system.
He had to clear his head of any irrational thoughts.
Running his hands over the front of her body, he then teased her nipples into hard peaks. The scent of her rising desire perfumed the room. He was now as hard as the stone fireplace, desperate to bury himself inside her before he lost his already lust-addled mind.
“Let’s go upstairs,” he murmured into her ear.
She purred, “Yes. I hope that’s where your bedroom is.”
He took her hand and led her toward the spiral stairs. “Come with me and find out.”
When they reached it, he released her hand so she could climb first. With each step, his heart raced a note faster. As she ascended, his gaze dropped right to her ass, molded to perfection in the snug jeans she’d picked out when they’d gone shopping, and he moaned with undisguised longing.
“You okay back there?” she teased and then glanced over her shoulder with a naughty smile.
“I will be once I get my hands on this luscious ass.” He squeezed a handful and then gave it a playful smack.
“Ow.” She squealed and then raced up the stairs with a laugh.
Oh fuck, she knew exactly what she was doing and how it would provoke a predator, eager for the chase. He raced after her up the stairs and into his room. She turned to face him with an excited gleam in her eyes, stepping to the side as if looking for a way to slip by him. Once she attempted to run, he pounced on her and pinned her to the bed. She laughed and squirmed beneath him as if delighted she’d been caught. Her dark hair spread tousled across the white bedspread. His feisty mate wanted to play, and he was more than eager to do so.
Rafe gazed down at her and stroked her lips. As he continued down over her neck and farther down, she gazed at him with a wild, excited gleam in her bright eyes. Her breasts rose and fell with her quickened breaths. Rafe slid over her, anticipation hammering through his veins.
He traced his fingers lower still and declared, “Tonight, you’re mine.”
Chapter 11
Mila
Mine. One word had never sounded so perfect before. So right.
Rafe claimed her with his possessive touch as he caressed her body. His gaze was so intense, it robbed her of breath—of thought. All those questions and worries from earlier had vanished as this domineering alpha took control of her body. Raw masculine power exuded from him, and it excited her in such a primal way, it left her throbbing with need.
“You’re so hot,” he declared with a feral expression. “I can’t wait to see all of you.” His nostrils flared. “And find out if you taste as good as you smell.”
Her sex clenched with the ache to feel him there. Was he trying to kill her with that image?
“I want to see you, too.” She reached for his black shirt and unbuttoned it with fumbling fingers, just as eager to see and touch him. He helped, unfastening them with deft movements and then removed his shirt, tossing it to the floor.
As she gazed over his upper body, all cut and contoured to rock-hard perfection, her mouth turned parched. Mila licked her lips and then leaned up to get closer to him. She ran her hands over the hard planes in his chest and down into the dips carved between each delicious muscle.
He grabbed one of her wrists and then the other, pinning her back to the bed.
“Got you.” He gleamed down at her with a victorious smile as if he had her just where he wanted her.
She struggled to move her arms out of his grasp, but he was too powerful. She stopped squirming and stared into his triumphant eyes. He left no doubt how powerful he was, a true alpha, and damn, it was sexy as hell.
“What are you going to do with me, Rafe?” she asked.
“If you’re a good girl, I’ll give you what you crave.” Rafe bent down and kissed between her breasts.
She moaned and settled back onto his bed. With his teeth, he nudged up the bottom of her shirt, exposing her belly. He kissed her there, moving up her body, and then released one wrist, nudging her shirt up higher. He cupped one of her breasts and caressed it, but it wasn’t enough. She needed more.
“Take it off,” she begged, yearning to remove any barriers between them.
When he
released her other arm, she tugged her shirt over her head.
He gazed at her black satin bra. “Did you buy this for me?”
She might have had him in mind as she bought them while they went shopping. “Maybe.”
“I like it.” He stroked the fabric covering her breast. “I’ll like it better on the floor.”
He unhooked it, slid it over her arms, and tossed it with the other discarded clothes.
“Beautiful,” he murmured and his gaze raked over her upper body.
He leaned her back onto the bed and fondled one breast while kissing the other. When he flicked one nipple with his hot tongue, she gasped. It felt incredible. He continued to touch and lick her until she was squirming on the bed, eager to shed the rest of their clothing.
“Take them off,” she pleaded.
“Great idea,” he agreed. “I want to see you. All of you,” he growled with a dark timber in his tone.
So incredibly hot.
After he unfastened her jeans, they worked together with urgency to slide it off her body as well as the wool socks. All that remained covering her was a thin slip of fabric of the matching black satin panties. His eyes gleamed with sensuality as he stood and unfastened his pants. She watched with dizzying anticipation as he exposed more of his flesh, from that sexy V leading down. The black cotton of his boxers tented with a promising bulge, and her breath quickened. As he gaze traveled downward, she fixed on the muscular outlines in his thighs. She bit her lip. Every inch of him was impressive.
Rafe crawled back over her and pressed his hard length in between her legs. Oh, what decadent pleasure it promised. He kissed and licked from her ear along her neck again, and she released a low, needy moan. When the tips of his fangs brushed her flesh, a wave of hot liquid lust spooled in her core.
“I need you.” Her voice came out just above a whisper. It was more than just to have him inside her, it was for him to impale her with those fangs and mark her as his mate. Her fangs emerged with the same itch to pierce his flesh and taste the sweet essence of his blood, claiming him as hers forever.
The Alpha and His Enemy Wolf: White Mountain Shifters 3 Page 9
