Little Red Valentine (Enigma, Maine)

by Iris Abbott

  Scarlet closed her eyes and let her response to Mitch’s nearness guide her. Her lips softened and opened under the tender yet persuasive touch of his mouth against her own. Her body relaxed and melted into the surrounding hardness of Mitch. Still it wasn’t close enough for Scarlet. She wrapped both arms around his waist and snuggled even closer. She could feel the hard nudge of his unmistakable erection against her belly. It was a heady experience to have undeniable proof that he wanted her just as much as she wanted him.

  Suddenly Mitch let go and moved away. Scarlet’s senses were reeling from the intensity of the passion that scorched between them. She uttered a protest and stepped closer. She didn’t want him to stop now. She needed him. Scarlet was burning and only Mitch could douse the flames moving through her body.

  Mitch had been trying to temper his ardor for Scarlet’s sake, but she was so responsive. Instinctively he knew she needed him just as much as he needed her. He scooped her into his arms and hurried through the shared living area to his suite of rooms. “This side of the house contains my private living area. That includes a master bedroom and bathroom and a secluded patio and outdoor area. Justin’s private rooms are on the other side of the house. Even though we share the house you never have to worry about being interrupted or disturbed. This house has always been the home base for the Gannon family that’s why it’s so large.”

  He’d reached the door to his bedroom. He twisted the knob with one hand and pushed it open with his knee. Once they were safely inside he all but slammed it shut in his eagerness to further their lovemaking. He reached the large king-sized bed which dominated the center of the room. “You look so right in this room, like you belong.” He placed her in the center of the bed and stepped back to toe off his shoes. He did this without taking his eyes off of Scarlet.

  “Right now nothing feels closer to the truth. I need you Mitch.” And she did. For the first time she was drowning in an avalanche of feeling that made her feel good inside instead of scared. She was shivering with goose bumps spreading all over her body, but it was in anticipation of the loving to come and not fear that caused this reaction.

  Scarlet raised herself up and perched on her knees. She wanted to watch Mitch as he continued to undress. She made her way to the edge of the bed and beckoned him closer. “I want to touch you, let me help.” Mitch complied and moved until he was touching the edge of the bed. Scarlet wrapped her arms around his neck and claimed his lips for a quick kiss. It only lasted a couple of seconds. She was anxious to feel him cover every inch of her flesh with his own. She unbuttoned his dress shirt with fingers that fumbled, but she finally got the job done. Then she reached for the button on his slacks. She was feeling more confident now and she had the button undone in no time. His zipper was next and the noise of metal sliding against metal sounded unusually loud in the room.

  Mitch quickly stepped out of his loosened pants. He felt Scarlet’s delicate hand caress his abdomen and he sucked in a quick breath of air. This was pure torture. His wolf was howling inside demanding that he move faster. “Your turn,” Mitch managed to get out without growling. He hadn’t told Scarlet about the Gannon legacy of wolf shifters. She had enough scary things to deal with and he couldn’t add to that, not yet. He could however make her his, because he knew without a doubt she was his destined mate.

  The heat pooling in her lower abdomen exploded outward at the rough sound of Mitch’s deep and husky voice. Her nipples pebbled into tight aching points that couldn’t wait to be free from the confines of her bra. She agreed. It was definitely her turn. She yanked her shirt over her head and carelessly threw it on the floor to join Mitch’s pile of discarded clothing. She felt his hands on her pants. They were unfastened and shoved down to her knees then Mitch was pushing her onto her back. Once she was lying flat, he was able to completely remove the jeans from her body.

  Scarlet unfastened the clasp of her bra and slowly revealed her swollen mounds to Mitch’s avid gaze. She could feel his eyes feasting on her and her nipples hardened even more in response. She watched with widening eyes as Mitch stepped away from the bed and slid his sexy black briefs to the floor. His erection sprang free and jutted toward her. She couldn’t help but hold out a tentative hand to touch it. Mitch’s groan of burgeoning desire gave her the courage to continue her exploration. She touched his erection from tip to base and then began exploring other parts of his body.

  Mitch gritted his teeth and endured Scarlet’s touch. Her fingers left trails of fire behind and it was a test of his great inner strength that he didn’t just ravish her on the spot. Finally he couldn’t take it anymore. “Enough,” he demanded. It was time for him to take charge. He stretched out on top of her meshing his hard flesh against her much softer and curvier body. He wanted to claim her now. He couldn’t wait much longer. His wolf was losing patience. It wanted to come out and play, but Mitch couldn’t allow that, not yet anyway.

  Scarlet thrilled at the commanding sound of Mitch’s voice. She felt Mitch rising above her then he cupped her face in both hands and gently kissed her. She pressed closer and the kiss deepened. She felt one hand slip down to cradle the back of her head and the other moved to her neck. The kiss continued and she began to feel breathless. She raked her nails lightly down his back. Mitch responded by capturing both of her much smaller hands in one of his very large hands and pinning them on the bed above her head. Scarlet shivered and groaned from the heat pulsating in her feminine core.

  Mitch dragged his lips across Scarlet’s mouth to her neck. He sucked and nuzzled her for several minutes until she was begging for more. He could smell her arousal and feel the dampness of her body against his skin. He knew she was as ready for him as he was for her. He let go of her hands so he could explore her body. The fingers of one hand went straight to the small swollen pink bundle of nerves above her feminine core.

  Scarlet felt Mitch lightly touch and then caress the most sexually sensitive part of her body. “Yes, yes that’s it,” she encouraged his touch. She was rewarded by a thick finger sliding past her neither lips and into the warm moist heat she offered. She bunched her muscles and rocked her hips forward in time to the movement of his finger. “More,” she managed to get out in a strangled whisper.

  Mitch used a knee to nudge her legs further apart and slid his body between hers. He guided the head of his engorged erection to her waiting entrance and pushed inside. He was aroused almost to the point of madness and the silky warm heat engulfing his tip was enough to send him over the edge. He tightened the grip he had on her hips and lunged forward so that he was completely sheathed inside her welcoming warmth.

  Scarlet could feel every hard inch of Mitch rub against her swollen nerve endings. It was a delicious feeling that sent tingling sparks shooting all over her body. Yet she still needed to be closer. Mitch set up a steady rhythm of thrusts and she jerked her hips upwards to meet each and every one. His mouth closed over an aching nipple and he applied just the right amount of pressure to make Scarlet jerk in response. That just added to the sensations that were coursing through her body and making her lightheaded. She returned the favor. Her fingers found his pebbled nipples and she lightly caressed them between delicate fingers. Mitch growled his approval and she intensified her exploration of his body.

  She could feel her own coiling muscles reach the breaking point. She was so close, almost there. She wrapped her arms and legs around his body to hold him closer and help deepen his penetration. His erection was gliding over just the right spot and his pelvic bone was grinding into her over sensitized bundle of nerves driving her even closer to fulfillment. Her hands fell to the sheets of their own accord and she mindlessly clenched and unclenched the silky material between her fingers. The pressure continued to build and her body felt like a pressure cooker. She thrashed her head back and forth and screamed Mitch’s name.

  Mitch could feel her muscles tighten around his erection and then pulsate. They were both right there, so close to ecstasy. He moved both hands
under her to help increase the intensity of her answering thrusts. He drove himself inside her harder and faster. He returned to her neck and nuzzled the vulnerable spot where her neck met her shoulder and then he bit down hard. And in a crescendo of exploding light behind his eyes he stilled and then erupted in a release that seemed to go on and on forever.

  Scarlet barely felt the bite that unknowingly bonded her to Mitch. All she felt was exploding pleasure as her muscles seized and her whole body shook in a spasm of never-ending fulfillment. The last thing she remembered before blacking out was the shooting stars she could see even though her eyes were tightly closed.

  FOUR

  Scarlet was disappointed to wake alone. She listened for some kind of sound to prove she wasn’t by herself. She only heard silence. She stretched her body which was feeling pretty refreshed after the best sleep she’d had in months. She could see sunlight fighting its way through the small spaces in the curtains. She realized it was fairly late probably close to noon.

  Even though she needed the rest she couldn’t believe she’d slept this late. She had so much to do. She’d better get started. She returned to the red room upstairs and took a quick shower before changing into light cotton pants and a long sleeved cotton top. She would be sitting in front of her laptop for most of the day. She might as well be comfortable while she worked.

  She looked around the room, but she couldn’t find her laptop bag anywhere. It wasn’t with her suitcase. She knew she had it with her when she left the cottage. She’d have to find Mitch and ask him where he’d put it. She wandered down the stairs absorbing her surroundings as she went. She’d never gotten the tour he’d promised. She’d ask Mitch to show her around later. And maybe they wouldn’t get sidetracked the next time. Scarlet felt her face heating up at the thought of just how they’d spent their time together last night. Instead of exploring the house they had been busy exploring each other. And she didn’t regret one minute of it.

  She retraced her steps from the night before until she was standing in front of Mitch’s office. The door was open, but he wasn’t alone. She raised her hand to knock. Her heart jumped in her throat when Mitch and the redhead he was deep in conversation with turned around. The woman was gorgeous and she and Mitch looked mighty comfortable with each other. Scarlet couldn’t help the fit of envy that assailed her. She gave them a nervous half smile. “I’m sorry for interrupting, but I need my laptop. I’ve got a couple of project deadlines looming on the horizon. I can’t afford to slack off.” Her insides warmed when Mitch offered her a wide smile and beckoned her forward. Scarlet felt all of her doubts fade away. She joined Mitch who greeted her with a warm kiss.

  “Good morning, sleepyhead. I was just going to wake you. You have a visitor. Scarlet this is Brittany Sheldon. Um make that Brittany Justice now. She was one of the brides in the wedding you almost interrupted when you first came to town.”

  The two women gave each other curious but friendly looks before shaking hands. “I invited Brittany to come see you. She teaches self-defense classes to women and children at a studio in town, but I don’t think it’s safe for you to be out and about yet. Luckily I recently helped her and her friends with a security issue and we’ve all gotten to know each other quite well. That being the case she has volunteered to give you a few lessons here in my home gym.”

  “But Mitch, I would have loved the trip into town.” She gave him a narrow eyed look. “How long do you expect me to stay here anyway?”

  Mitch held her gaze and refused to back down. Scarlet held her own which made him proud, because as his mate she was going to have to be strong. “For as long as it takes. It’s not safe for you to leave here without Justin or me at your side until we’ve caught your stalker. And I would feel much better if you knew some basic self-defense moves just in case you ever need to use them.”

  Scarlet was practical and she wasn’t going to argue his point. He was right. If she’d been able to protect herself in Boston, she might not be in this mess right now. “Okay. You’re right about one thing. I need to be able to protect myself. I can’t always have a bodyguard by my side.”

  She looked from Mitch to Brittany. “Thank you for offering to teach me. When can we start?”

  The doorbell rang and Brittany gave her a wide smile. “Well, how about right now?” Brittany asked. “That should be my friends Selena and Julie. They are going to help me show you a few moves and we can spar with each other later to help you practice those moves.”

  One of Mitch’s security experts came to the office door with a resigned look on his face. He was followed by lots of giggling. “Mitch you have visitors.” The man made a quick escape and Scarlet could hear him muttering as he went. “This place is never going to be the same again.” Obviously the three other women heard too, because they burst into laughter.

  Mitch gave Scarlet a quick kiss on the lips before going back to his desk. “I’ll leave you in their very capable hands. Ladies make sure you take care of Scarlet. She’s very special to me.”

  Brittany took charge and hustled everyone into the hallway. Once outside of Mitch’s space she swiftly introduced her friends to Scarlet. Then she led them down the hall to a back room that Mitch and Justin had converted to a home gym several years before. Justin and a couple of other men were just leaving. They were all dressed in workout clothes and sweat was pouring from their bodies. The women stepped inside and Brittany looked around the room before giving a satisfied nod. “They can listen well enough when they want to. Everything’s ready for us ladies.”

  Scarlet looked around the room. It was a huge square filled with workout equipment on one side. The other side was banked by a wall of mirrors and it was empty expect for the large square mat on the floor. She saw the other women walk that way so she followed. “Thanks once again for agreeing to help me. I hope Mitch didn’t have to bulldoze you to get you in here today.”

  The dark headed one named Julie chuckled. “Mitch can be akin to a large piece of machinery at times, but he means well. He and my husband Alessandro are close friends and he handles all of the security for my family. My husband comes from old money, really old money, so we have lots of security issues.”

  Selena cocked her head. “That reminds me. The three of us are hosting a masked ball for Valentine’s Day. It’s going to be held at Julie and Alessandro’s castle. Of course Mitch’s company is handling the security. You should make sure he brings you with him,” she invited. “I think we’re all going to be fast friends, especially after spending time on the mat together,” she added with a saucy wink of an eye.

  Scarlet couldn’t get past the security issue. “Why does a Valentine’s Day party need the high caliber of protection that comes from Gannon Security?” Scarlet wondered out loud.

  “Um well,” Brittany cleared her throat before throwing her friends a pointed look. “Our husbands are all high-powered and wealthy business men,” she shrugged. “They are also very prominent citizens of Enigma. Unfortunately as Mitch can tell you, the kind of wealth and power our men possess didn’t come without gaining a few enemies along the way.”

  She clapped her hands. “Now let’s get to work. I want you to know the basics before we leave here today. We’ve got a lot to do! We’re going to make sure there is never a repeat of what happened to you in Boston.”

  ******

  Scarlet effectively removed herself from a stranglehold using the outward thrusting movement of her arms just as Brittany had taught her. She fell to the mat in an exhausted heap. She closed her eyes and took stock of her aching muscles. Brittany had been working her and the other ladies hard for about four hours now. She perked up and her eyes popped open when she heard applause coming from the doorway. She turned around and spotted Mitch casually leaning against the door.

  “Great job ladies, and thank you again for helping with Scarlet’s security.”

  “You’re welcome, Mitch. She’s great. It really wasn’t a chore.” Brittany turned her attention to Sca
rlet. “I’m glad Mitch thought of this idea, because I really like you and I’m so glad we got to meet and spend time together.” Julie and Selena agreed. “And if you ever get tired of hanging around here and Mitch or one of the other men are too busy to escort you to town just let us know. It would be really fun to have a lady’s day out.”

  Scarlet smiled. She’d known from the moment they’d met that she was going to hit it off with this trio of ladies. “I’d like that. Now if everyone will excuse me. I’d better go take a hot bath or I’m not going to be able to move tomorrow during our second round of lessons.” She was pleasantly surprised when the three women hugged her before she left the room. She was happier than she’d been in a long time. She had a blossoming romance with Mitch that was beyond her wildest fantasies. And new friends she just knew were going to be an important part of her life from now on.

  Brittany turned on Mitch just as soon as Scarlet was safely out of earshot. “I can’t believe you Mitch Gannon,” she said in exasperation. She narrowed her eyes and propped her hands on her hips to prove her point. “I saw the mark on her neck.”

  “We all saw the mark on her neck,” both Julie and Selena chimed in.

  “So why haven’t you told her about Enigma’s paranormal population and the fact that you’re a wolf shifter?” Julie wanted to know.

  “That poor woman has no idea what she’s getting into. You can’t leave her blind for long,” Brittany warned.

  “Yep, I agree,” Selena added. “The fact that you are a wolf shifter and also alpha is not something you want to keep hidden from your mate for long. It’s just asking for trouble!”

  “Trust us when we say it’s going to come back to bite you in the butt if you don’t take care of it soon,” Brittany advised.