by Rayna Tyler
Satisfied he’d gotten the message, I quickly caught up with Mandy in the short line by the nearest cash register. “Are you okay?” I placed my hand protectively along her lower back.
“Fine.”
I could tell by the way her muscles tensed under my hand that she was still upset. She didn’t say anything during the remainder of our time in the store, not uttering another word even after she got into my truck and snapped her belt into place.
Did her silence mean she still had feelings for Craig? Had she decided I wasn’t worth her efforts? I hated that years of rejection had me struggling with self-doubt. I gripped the steering wheel and focused on her.
“I take it you and Craig have a history.” She was my mate, the only woman I wanted, and I didn’t want to lose her. Her being human made things more complicated. She was aware my kind existed, but I didn’t know if she was capable of feeling our bond. If she was a shifter, she’d understand our connection and I’d have already claimed her.
I would never force her to accept me and had planned to take my time gaining her trust and winning her heart. I couldn’t do either if she was involved with someone else.
“Yes.” Mandy had been staring at her lap and raised her head to meet my gaze. “It ended a long time ago.”
“Do you still care about him?” It was the hardest question I’d ever had to ask anyone. I held my breath, hoping and praying I hadn’t misread the situation.
“No.” She shook her head.
It was all I needed to hear. The tightness in my chest abated, and I relaxed my grip on the wheel. From what she’d said to Craig in the store and the worry still creasing her brow, I was certain there was more to the story. I eased her hand into mine. “Do you want to talk about it?” I was surprised to hear the words come out of my mouth.
Even more surprising was Mandy’s huge grin and the patronizing way she patted my hand. “And you said you weren’t good with people.”
I groaned, silently cursing Berkley for wearing off on me with her “you need to learn to communicate” speeches.
Chapter Eleven
NICK
Now that I had Mandy all to myself, I wasn’t ready to end my time with her by returning to my cabin. On a whim, I turned off the main highway onto a dirt road, and in minutes, the truck was surrounded by trees. The surface was worn, and the areas that rarely saw sunlight were gouged with deep, muddy ruts pooled with water from a recent rain storm.
My Ford pickup was a newer model, had four-wheel drive, and, if required, could handle the deteriorated condition of the road without any problems.
Mandy had dozed during our drive, and after the first bump bounced her awake, she glanced out the window, then back at me. “Uh, Nick?”
“Yeah.”
“Where are we going?” She didn’t sound alarmed, only curious.
“Shortcut back to my place,” I said innocently, leaving out the part where I planned to stop somewhere else first. In the short time I’d been living at the resort, I’d explored a majority of the area. I’d discovered this road by accident when I’d been out running as my wolf. If we continued on this route, we’d return to the resort…eventually.
“This is not a shortcut. It’s one of the access roads to the falls. It’s going to take at least another hour to get back to your cabin.” Mandy braced one hand on the seat, the other on the door to keep from being jostled. “Reese is going to be upset, and you’re going to get me fired.” She groaned and glared at me. “You do remember me telling you about needing the money, right?”
“I’m one of the partners, remember?” At first, I hadn’t wanted the position and had reluctantly stepped into the role with a lot of coercing from Reese and Berkley. If being in charge allowed me more time with Mandy, I planned to use it to my advantage. “Since you’re with me, I’d say your job is safe.”
She wrinkled her brow, still unconvinced. “So you’re going to protect me when Reese has a fit because the deadlines aren’t being met?”
“Absolutely.” An afternoon alone with her was worth any lecture I’d get from my brother. “You have my word.” She was cute when she was mad, and I wanted to kiss the frown from her face.
“I’m holding you to that.” She returned her attention to our surroundings.
Five minutes later, the road curved, and the thinning trees presented us with a glimpse of the falls. Mandy glanced at me, suspicion narrowing her gaze. “You’re not going back to the resort, are you?”
“Not right away.” I drove the truck onto a semi-level area that had been cleared and covered with gravel, providing an overlook for the massive display. A two-foot guardrail constructed out of tree trunks ran along the edge to prevent anyone from driving their vehicle over the steep ledge.
A tall mountain wall covered in rock, trees, and underbrush rose up in front of us. Numerous streams of clear water cascaded over smooth layers of black and gray boulders, then splashed into a large pool of crystal green water below. Seneca Falls had become one of my favorite spots in the mountain wilderness. Not only was the view spectacular, but the water was derived from a hot spring, and swimming wasn’t prohibited.
“Is there a reason you decided to bring me here?”
“Berkley is always telling me I need to lighten up and learn how to have fun.” For once, I planned to take my sister’s advice.
“So that’s what we’re doing, having fun?” she asked suspiciously.
“Yep. Come on.” As soon as I opened the door, a layer of cool, moist air covered my skin, and I was greeted by the rumble of water beating and splashing its way to the awaiting pool below. I walked around to Mandy’s side of the vehicle, then took her hand and tugged her toward one of numerous paths that would get us closer to the falls.
The walkway was narrow and steep in several places. Maneuvering wasn’t a problem for me, but Mandy struggled, slipping in the loose dirt and clutching my arm to keep from falling. “Would you like me to carry you?”
“And have us both end up on the ground? No, thanks.” Her amused grin told me she’d considered it before turning me down.
“Suit yourself.” I continued moving forward, enjoying the warmth from her hands and having her fingertips dig into my skin every time she lost her footing.
Eventually, the ground leveled out, and instead of stopping to observe the largest cluster of flowing water, I continued walking. “This way.” I led her into a narrow space between two large trees and onto a path I knew wasn’t visible from the area we’d left. The trail curved to the right and ended up near a smaller pool in a more secluded area.
“This is beautiful.” Mandy gaped at the landscape. “I’ve been out here quite a few times and never knew this was here.” She glanced back at him. “How did you find it?”
“I like to explore when I’m out on a run.”
“You mean when you do your wolfy thing?”
“Yeah, when I do my wolfy thing.” If anyone else had made the comment, I’d have taken offense, assuming it was meant as a dig because of the wild side of my nature. Coming from Mandy, it was adorable, and I laughed. She wasn’t being mean; she was simply stating a fact.
“Do you suppose you could show me your wolf sometime?”
I pulled her into my arms and pressed a kiss to her lips. “Anything for you.” The idea pleased and enticed me. My wolf strutted, ready to show off for his mate. Our mate.
I perked my ears, listening to the neighboring sounds and ensuring there was no one around to witness my shift. I kicked off my shoes, then tugged my shirt over my head before tossing it on the ground.
MANDY
“Whoa, what are you doing?” I couldn’t believe Nick was stripping in front of me. Even though I’d gotten a glimpse of his torso the first day we’d met, I couldn’t stop staring at his chest. Seeing those contoured abs and pectorals in a darkened hallway versus the bright sunshine were two different things. His skin was a road map of fine lines and a rich, golden tan. After having more time to scrutinize
, I decided his bare chest was very impressive.
Nick’s hand hovered over the button on his jeans. “Did you change your mind about seeing my wolf?” He raised his brows daringly.
“No, I…” I hadn’t considered the possibility he’d need to take off his clothes when I’d asked him to shift, and it was too late to change my mind now.
“My clothes will be shredded, and this is all I have to wear, unless you’d prefer I drive you back to my cabin naked.”
My mind flooded with all kinds of images. Images that had heat scorching a path across my skin, all the way to my toes. He was only shifting, right? Was it wrong of me to ogle his gorgeous physique before he transformed into his wolf? I clamped my lips together, unwilling to share my thoughts. Nick seemed to have read my mind, because he chuckled and unzipped his jeans.
He made quick work of removing the rest of his clothes. He was a big guy, and his dimensions extended to the large, stiff cock jutting between his legs. He was turned on and, judging by his huge grin, was proud of it. “Ready?”
Ready for what? I was too busy drooling to comprehend that he was talking about his wolf and not the direction my thoughts were taking me. And believe me, my thoughts involved my mouth, hands, and a lot of touching.
“Mandy?” He tipped his head, asking my permission to continue.
Since I was on sensation overload and unable to speak, I nodded.
One second, Nick was standing there, and before I could blink, a huge black wolf, bigger than any I’d ever seen, was stalking toward me. The hungry way his wolf was staring at me was a little unnerving. I had to remind myself that Nick, the man, was behind that predatory gaze.
He brushed along the front of my legs and nuzzled my palm with his snout. “Nick, your wolf is beautiful.” I sank my fingers into his fur. It was thicker and coarser than his human hair, but no less tempting to play with. He pressed against my legs and growled, a low rumble that vibrated beneath my fingertips.
“Like that, do you?” I continued massaging his back, working my way to his rump.
Once I stopped, he turned so he was facing me, then nudged my stomach hard enough to make me take a few steps backward and closer to the water’s edge. “Stop it.” I knew Nick would never hurt me and pushed his head aside. The persistent creature ignored me, caught the hem of my shorts with his teeth, and tugged. Was he trying to get me to take my clothes off? “No.”
The next thing I knew, the wolf was gone and Nick was standing in front of me. “Swim with me…teach me how to have fun.”
He pulled me into his arms, gently following up his plea with a nip to my neck. “Unless you’re afraid…” He let the challenge hang in the air.
“It’s not the water I have a problem with.” I’d been swimming in the springs plenty of times when I was a teenager. Of course, I’d been wearing a swimsuit and been with a bunch of girls. I’d never been in the water naked with a full-grown man and never with one so handsome, he made my mouth water.
“Oh no,” he whispered, grazing my skin with his teeth. “What is it, then?”
“The devious antics of a big bad wolf.” I groaned and exposed more of my throat to his mouth.
“What if I promised to keep my hands to myself?” He swiped his tongue across my skin. “You’ll have to beg me to touch you.” He took a step back, releasing me completely.
If I were being honest, I wanted him touching me all over and couldn’t help feeling a little disappointed that he’d stopped. I wasn’t usually so daring, but I was convinced I would win and decided to take him up on his tempting challenge. “Then I should be safe, because I have no intention of begging.”
“Really?” Nick quirked a brow, and I knew he’d taken the bait.
“Uh-huh.” I slowly unhooked the clasps on my overalls. The bib and straps dangled from my waist, exposing the crop top I wore underneath. Nick moaned, his gaze lowering to the bare skin along my midsection. I couldn’t help notice he was hard again when I poised my fingers over the button on the right side of my shorts. “You need to turn around.”
“What?” He snapped his attention back to my face. “Why?”
“No hands, no peeking, no temptation,” I taunted.
“So unfair,” he grumbled and slowly turned to face away from me.
I sat on a nearby rock, then untied and slipped out of my boots and socks. After stripping out of my overalls and shirt, I contemplated removing my black panties and bra and decided against it. I was glad I’d taken the time to select a matching set when I glanced in Nick’s direction and caught him staring at me over his shoulder. “What happened to no peeking?”
“What happened to going naked?” he countered, giving me one of his lopsided grins.
“I don’t recall you saying anything about skinny-dipping.” I shook my head and walked toward the water, careful to avoid any sharp rocks. Once the water reached my hips, I turned just in time to see Nick climb onto a large boulder and dive into the deeper part of the pool.
“Show-off,” I said as soon as his head breached the water’s surface.
“Couldn’t resist…” He smiled and swiped the wet hair back from his face. “Now, about that begging.” He stalked toward me, sending miniature waves rippling across the transparent surface. A glimmer of desire shimmered in the depths of his gray eyes, and once again, I was reminded of his predatory side.
Anticipation raced through my system, and I moved backward, never letting my gaze leave his. I hadn’t realized he’d maneuvered me into a shallow alcove until my back pressed into a smooth rock wall. He stopped several inches in front of me, then leaned in close. Close enough for me to feel the heat coming off his body without our skin touching. Close enough to have my nipples pebbling and a warm, needy ache building in my core.
He sniffed the air and smirked, knowing exactly what kind of effect he was having on me and enjoying it immensely. He brushed his lips across my mouth—feather-light, teasing, short.
I swallowed a moan. My heart raced, and I was finding it hard to breathe. “What happened to no touching?”
He pressed another kiss to my jaw. “I promised to keep my hands to myself. I didn’t say anything about my mouth.”
Nick placed his hands on the rock near my shoulders. “Didn’t anyone ever tell you it’s never a good idea to tempt a wolf, especially a wild one?” He pressed his lips to the skin along my throat, reaching the base and nipping the skin near my collarbone.
“I must have missed that lesson.” I gasped, barely able to keep my hands pressed against my thighs, my resolve to keep from begging slowly dwindling.
The water where we were standing wasn’t deep and left my scantily covered breasts exposed. A fact Nick wasted no time using to his advantage. Lowering his head, he used his teeth to push aside the flimsy lace. He latched on to my nipple and sucked it into his mouth, then teased the tip by circling it with his tongue.
I shuddered and arched my back, no longer able to fight the pleasurable sensations racking my body. I gripped the underside of his arms and moaned. “Please, Nick.”
“Please what?” He licked the side of my breast, then peeled back the lace on the other one.
“Touch me,” I whimpered.
NICK
Mandy’s plea to continue had me wanting her in the worst way. What started out as playful teasing had my cock throbbing to be inside her. I wanted our first time to be somewhere private where there wasn’t a possibility we’d be interrupted and had no intention of taking her here. It didn’t mean I couldn’t play some more and ensure she reached her climax.
I pulled her into my arms, sliding my hands down her back to cup her ass and grind her against my erection. I sucked her other nipple into my mouth and twirled my tongue over the tip, smiling against her skin when she moaned and dug her nails into my shoulders.
I kissed my way along her chest, stopping to graze the skin at the base of her neck with my teeth. Someday, if I were to claim her, this would be where I placed my mark. My wolf was in
total agreement and forced a growl to rumble in my chest.
Mandy dropped her head back giving me better access to her neck. I pressed kisses along salty-sweet skin, tasting the lobe of her ear. “Mandy.”
“Mmm.”
“Spread your legs for me.” I nipped her skin, gripping her ass tighter and lifting.
She wrapped her legs around my waist, making pleasurable moans when her core rubbed against my hard shaft. Holding back, restraining myself from taking what I truly wanted was exquisite torture. This was about her pleasure, and I longed to watch her come apart in my arms.
Working my fingers along the edge of her panties, I slid my hand inside the silky fabric, gliding across her wet curls, then slipping two fingers inside her dampened folds. She was more than ready to take me, and again I fought the urge to thrust my cock inside her.
I pushed in and out of her slowly, building a steady rhythm while I continued to taste and tease her throat.
“Yes.” She arched her back, pushing harder against my hand.
She was close. I could tell by the way she clenched around my fingers. I continued to thrust, increasing the pace. When I pressed my thumb to her clit, she bucked against my hand and moaned. I pressed my mouth over hers, capturing her scream as she shuddered through her orgasm. I continued pumping, drawing out her pleasure until her grip on my shoulders slackened and she slumped against my chest.
I started to worry when Mandy didn’t move even after her breathing had returned to normal. “Mandy?”
“Huh.”
“How are you doing?”
“I… There are no words.” She lifted her head and smiled. “Berkley was wrong when she said you don’t know how to have fun.”
I grinned and kissed her forehead. “I should get you back.” Loosening my grip, I waited until she was standing on her own, then took her hand and led her out of the water.
Once we reached the area where we’d left our clothes, Mandy grabbed the end of her braid and squeezed out the excess moisture.
