Chapter 8
Cyn couldn’t believe he’d said that. He cared for her? Had he lost his mind? But as her hand rose to rest on his chest, the same question could be asked about her. His heartbeat thundered under her palm. She was the one who was doing that to him.
The man whose lips hovered above hers wasn’t the same man she’d met when she awoke in bed. The hidden layers she hadn’t known about were now bare for her to see.
Even after she’d seen him attack that hunter, she could still see his real side. He wasn’t a brute or a conman like the men she hunted—so what was he? And what place could she have in this new life?
He was waiting for her. She had to be the one to bridge the gap.
She stood, as if turning away from him would make him disappear. But she still caught his scent, and the warmth from where he touched her lingered. He was standing behind her now, his breath fluttering against the top of her head.
Maybe if she faced him and told him she planned to leave, he’d let her go. Good luck trying. When she met his gaze, the raw intensity of his green eyes dissolved any words she had gathering on her tongue.
Say it. Tell him you’re leaving.
Instead, she pressed her lips against his. Bliss. A second later, her back was slammed into the wall. The Christmas tree shook, making the red and green lights dance against the walls. He smothered her body with his. Every hard inch of him, from his chiseled stomach muscles to his legs, held her in place. His breaths were hard and heavy, the primal part of him evident in his lidded eyes. With one hand, he stretched her arms above her head, granting him access to her neck. His mouth drifted from hers to nibble over her jaw down to the sensitive skin along her neck and back to her mouth. She struggled to touch him, to feel his face or explore the width of his back.
He growled against her mouth. “No moving. I want to taste every part of you.”
Her head naturally tilted as the kiss deepened. His tongue brushed against hers, commanding and bold. With each stroke of his tongue, his hand, which had rested on her hip, snaked under her T-shirt to yank it upwards. The moment his hand touched her skin, honey-like warmth radiated from his palm. Strength surged into her limbs and her body trembled from sheer pleasure. But it wouldn’t be any fun if she just hung out like this all night while the good doctor healed her.
She grinned. Oh, no, you’re not gonna be captain of this ship for very long.
She managed to twist one of her wrists from his iron grip. With one hand free, Cyn grasped his arm and curved it with a jerk behind his back. He grunted, not in discomfort, but surprise, especially when she shoved him away. Now a few feet separated them. He waited, their breaths heavy in the silent room.
Now this game could be played on her terms.
“Cyn…” he gasped. The thick muscles along his forearms twitched and his mouth parted to reveal clenched teeth. Was he hanging on a thin thread like she was, straining to make this moment last instead of screwing without a care?
Their gazes locked. She took a step toward him. Placed her index finger on his chest and pushed him backward until the backs of his legs hit the couch. He sat down and she straddled his lap. Off came her T-shirt. She grasped at his shirt and when the buttons gave her trouble, she ripped the shirt open. Screw the buttons.
He was sheer perfection with hard abs and a delicious V-shape to his hips.
She sampled his skin, kissing, sucking, and nibbling at his lips. With every lick, she tasted him: the saltiness around his neck, the dry bite of whisky along his lips. He was just as eager. His hands were everywhere, grasping at her hips, unhooking her bra, kneading her ass. Every touch added fuel to the frenzy growing under her skin.
All the while, she rocked her hips, rubbing her core along the bulge under his zipper. She eased herself slowly back and forth. Jerking against him until his hands locked on her hips and he thrust upward.
“Cyn,” he hissed, “you’re making it hard for me to control myself.”
There were too many pieces of clothing between them. She wanted everything from him. No boundaries set by hunters or werewolves.
He pushed her up, and she shrugged off her jeans and panties. Now she was bare before him. She expected him to carry her to bed, maybe even bend her over the couch and plow into her. But he sat there. Still clad in his pants—a matter she’d remedy soon—and all he did was stare. He took in the curve of her bare breasts. His eyebrows rose with amusement and his tongue darted out to lick his lower lip, then his attention turned to the gold ring jutting out of her belly button.
Next his hand rose and he brushed his fingertip against the elaborate tattoo on her hip, the red paw print that was the symbol for her hunting clan. “Nice tat.” He swiveled his fingertip over her nipple and she gasped. Then he dipped his fingertip into the moist seam between her thighs.
Just that one caress from her nub to her channel’s entrance made her moan.
He tried to draw her down to him, but her gaze flicked to his jeans. “Too many clothes.”
His half-grin did something to her insides. Without a word, he unbuttoned his pants and pulled them off. The ladylike thing to do would be to meet his hungry gaze eye-to-eye, but she wanted to see what she’d been grinding against for the past few minutes.
Off came his briefs, and now he was naked before her in all his glory. Hot damn on a stick, he was a tasty holiday treat waiting to be devoured.
“I think we’re about even now,” she whispered.
She pushed him back on the couch and he drew her toward him. She eased down on his length, her core stretching to accommodate his girth. Over the years, she’d had a lover once in a while, never a one-night stand, but all of them had been humans. She’d never felt so tightly wound, so ravenously hungry to make love.
His hands tightened on her thighs as she slowly rose again. Heat seared her skin from where he was continuing to heal her.
“Oh, Cyn…you’re beautiful.”
She lowered herself again, savoring how much he filled her. As agonizing as the slower pace was, there was something so intimate about facing him. Lips against lips. Her cries of pleasure sucked into his mouth.
She climaxed; her stomach muscles locked as her body shook.
“Up.” When she didn’t move, he lifted her off him with ease. Her legs barely held her, so he picked her up and marched to the bedroom.
He was between her legs before she had a chance to scoot all the way onto the bed. In one hard thrust, he was inside. He growled and all she could do was cling to him.
Every thrust stole her breath, her body rising to the heights of bliss. So high, she might not ever come down.
She reached the peak first, but he kept going, feeding the overflowing fire in her.
“All mine,” he said, his whole body shuddering. Then he lay quietly with her; the only sound in the room was their quickened breaths.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
“I don’t think ‘all right’ really is the best word for what I’m feeling right now.”
“So what then?”
She thought for a moment—which was rather hard. Cyn wouldn’t be the last gal to turn down rough sex once in a while, but what had just happened was beyond mind-blowing. Every bone in her legs had no substance; her throat was raw from screaming out his name. And even with all that, her core clenched again in anticipation. Instead of answering, she kissed him. In response, his shaft hardened and he thrust again. Ever so slowly.
Damn insatiable little wolf.
Chapter 9
There is nothing in the world quite like waking up and feeling ready to kick the ass of everyone who’d ever pissed you off in the past. Strength pulsed through Cyn. Even her hair had the sheen and volume from her high school days. But one thing was for certain, she wasn’t a werewolf yet. He hadn’t offered to change her and she hadn’t asked. Getting up and dressing was just like any other day.
Kaden rolled over onto his back and placed his hands behind his head. He was awake. One gl
ance at him was one too many for her. The muscles in his arms flexed and she had to look away. He was sheer perfection from his chest down to the place where the covers hid the best part. She stood beside the bed waiting for him to say something, but he didn’t. When she took a step to leave, the bed groaned as Kaden got up. She didn’t look back.
Would he try to stop her? With each footstep, she reminded herself she wasn’t the same woman who’d had to be carried into the cabin. She was well enough to take care of her brother and come back.
She would come back, wouldn’t she?
The living room was dim. Kaden maintained a respectable distance behind her. All the curtains had been left shut and only streaks of light peeked through the cracks. Something new over the fireplace drew her attention. A set of stockings. Four of them with names stitched into the top. Make that three. She had one, as well as Kaden and Naomi, while Sinister’s stocking was oversized and bright white with his name written in pen at the top. She snorted, not surprised. Someone, most likely Sinister, had come in while they were busy in the bedroom and had left candy—real candy—in the stockings.
Someone had left her bag by the door. She fetched it and put on her boots.
It was Christmas Day. Every single Christmas, the McGinnis kids would gather wherever the family deemed was safe and they’d open presents and eat some kind of burnt bird. Zach made the most horrible cook, but he tried and they made an effort to choke down a bite or two, except Ty. He just complained.
This Christmas was different, though. The broken-down tree was in the wrong place. There were no presents. The lights were dimmed. She opened the window for good measure. There was a fresh layer of snow outside. Perfect Christmas weather.
She shrugged on Kaden’s coat, refusing to look at him. She sensed his unwavering gaze. If she looked at him, she suspected her resolve would melt away, and all these new feelings she had for him would cloud her judgment.
If she left now, once she reached the highway and then Prince George, she could reach Vancouver in about ten hours. It wasn’t like she hadn’t hitchhiked before.
She grabbed her bag and left the house. The sounds of the door opening and closing behind her could be heard. Any moment now, she expected him to grab her arm to say something to stop her. To her surprise, it was the dark wolf that ended up walking beside her. He was massive. Something to be feared, but now, she only felt safe.
Her hand brushed against the soft fur along his flank.
She couldn’t help thinking about what had happened the other day. Kaden had killed someone to defend his pack. He’d protected his loved ones as he’d told her he’d do. He’d protect you too, a voice whispered in her head.
The wolf remained at her side as she trudged through the snow. The landscape was beautiful. The morning light reflected against the snow and a gust of fresh air blew across her face.
Contentment filled her and that overwhelming feeling made her stop walking. This was her first Christmas without arguments, without an upcoming assignment nagging at her. The cabins were small, about the size of her apartment, but when you lived so simply, why would you need more? She could stay here. No more hunting. No more hearing about dead family members. But could she stay here with Kaden? Michael couldn’t give her a normal life and neither could Kaden, but the werewolf was someone just as wonderful. She could not deny or ignore the way he made her feel safe, the way he’d given a part of his soul so that she could live longer.
The wolf circled in front of her and blocked the path. She could go around him if she wanted to do it, as she had planned when she first left the house. But at that moment, she knew she was done running. She was done searching for the normal. Instead of dying, she could live on with someone who cared for her and understood her circumstances. And whatever dangers they faced, they could face them together.
Instead of going around Kaden, she picked up some snow. She didn’t have any gloves, but she didn’t plan to hold the snow for very long. With a mischievous grin, she lobbed the snowball at him. Before she caught the wolf’s reaction, she turned around and made a run for it. What kind of fool would just stand there?
Laughing felt good. When was the last Christmas she’d had a snowball fight with her brothers? It had been so many years ago, she’d lost count. When she reached the cabin, she turned to see she was alone. She scanned the valley and couldn’t spot him.
The snowball that hit her on the side of the head came out of nowhere. Ehh, she’d deserved it. Kaden emerged from the trees, quite naked, and marched over to her holding more snowballs. “Are you done?” he asked with a grin.
“Since you’re naked—very much so.” She held up her hands in surrender. Damn, he didn’t even shiver. He dropped the snowballs and walked up to her. Silence passed between them, but all the while, she took in his gaze. The hint of a smile on his beautiful face. Was this what it felt like to fall for someone, this feeling when you could stand out in the cold and not give a damn, as long as that special someone was right there with you?
“Aren’t you cold?” she finally asked him. She opened the coat and invited him into her arms.
“Not that much.” He wrapped his arms around her waist. His heat radiated against her skin as she rested her cheek against his chest. She inhaled. He smelled delicious. All male.
“You don’t worry about shrinkage, do you?” she blurted. She had to say it.
“So you noticed.” His eyebrows danced.
Smart ass.
He used his hand to tilt up her chin and he kissed her long and slow. For a moment, she forgot about the cold, the fact that she was a hunter, and any other misgivings. Only this perfect sliver of time, this moment with Kaden, existed, and that was more than enough for her.
Chapter 10
Cyn had all the energy in the world, yet she slept better than she had in years. Maybe the man who held her close made that possible. There weren’t any antiseptic smells, no cold, white hospital room, no heart monitor beeps.
If she stayed here, she’d be free of that, and she’d have him, too.
“You keep squirming,” he said against her forehead. His breath was warm. “If you keep it up, I might have to make love to you until you fall asleep again.”
Now that was an offer she wanted to consider. “I’ve slept for long enough, but I’m not ready to get up.”
He chuckled, running his hand up and down her arm. The firm touch formed goose bumps along her skin.
After they had made love again, they lay naked, limbs intertwined. It was Kaden who broke the silence again. “My pack is coming here. Your brother has…done his part in terms of our agreement.”
She visibly swallowed. “Will they accept me?”
He kissed her forehead, slowly. “You’ll be my mate soon, and once that happens, I’m never letting you go. No matter what happens, you’ll be by my side.”
“And what if I try to leave again?” She sensed his smile in the darkness.
“I followed you twice before to let you decide on your own, but you won’t be so lucky if you try again.” He kissed her neck, drawing her leg over his hip. “You’re mine now.”
She laughed. “A real fight. Very nice. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
The End of Part 1
This story is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons living or dead is purely coincidental.
Copyright © 2015 Shawntelle Madison
Version 2.0
All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without prior written permission of the author.
Chapter 1
“A pack dinner?” Cynthia somehow managed to keep a straight face. She had a feeling though that Kaden would read through any clever ruse she might cr
eate. “Are you sure this is a good idea? I think your pack needs time to get used to me.”
Kaden had spent most of the day helping his pack settle in, now that they’d arrived. An introduction tonight seemed fitting—other than the fact that she was a hunter going to a pack event.
Honestly, Cyn wished she were back home in Vancouver so she could at least make a better impression. The only clothes she had were a couple of T-shirts, a pair of shorts, some women’s thermal underwear, and jeans from her hospital bag. She had to wear them over and over again.
She tried to remember the last time she fussed over her appearance in the bathroom mirror. At least a year ago? To hunt werewolves, she needed guns and not glamour. Brushing her black, chin-length hair was useless. The ends pretty much went in every direction except down. With a sigh, she gave up.
“Stop tripping over how you look.” He snuck up behind her and kissed her cheek. “You’re beautiful.”
He tugged her hand to make her leave the bathroom. “C’mon. I’ll protect you.”
She laughed. “From over ten werewolves?”
His right eyebrow rose. “As if you can’t handle them yourself. You were twirling the steak knives the other day like they were batons.”
“A girl’s gotta stay fresh.”
Cyn didn’t have a proper coat yet, so Kaden helped her put on his spare coat. He paused when he touched her concealed weapon.
“Do you seriously have a metal meat hammer attached to your back?” He sighed and extended his hand. “Where did you get it—don’t answer. You got anything else?”
She might as well be honest. Begrudgingly, she flashed the switchblade strapped to her ankle. “I sort of borrowed that from you.”
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