“You ready?” his mentor and friend asked.
“Yeah,” he muttered. Adam—former enforcer for The Council—didn’t miss shit. Whenever Ethan was in a mood or worried about something his friend called him on it.
Half-smiling, he handed Ethan the tool belt. “So…stayed at Caro’s last night? ’Bout damn time.”
Feeling awkward, he shrugged his shoulders. While he and Caro might have spent a lot of time together in the past months he’d never stayed over. He might have fantasized about it but he always ended up right back here at the end of the night. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
Adam pressed his key fob, unlocking his truck. “I can smell her on you.”
Ethan gritted his teeth and ignored him as he slid onto the passenger seat. Caro had been perfectly polite at breakfast but completely distant. As if last night hadn’t happened. He wanted to punch something. Or maybe go for a long run. He couldn’t understand what was going on with her. Maybe she’d changed her mind about them. He knew she was insecure about their age differences—or at least that’s the bullshit she’d tried to feed him months ago—but after last night it was pretty damn obvious how compatible they were together.
Adam started his truck and steered out of the driveway. They were headed to their pack member Thomas’ nightclub to do some custom work on one of the new bars. Ethan settled against the seat, hoping the conversation was over, but Adam continued. “Whatever bullshit going on with you two, you’ll work it out.”
Ethan grunted. Easy for him to say. He was happily mated.
“Just talk to her,” Adam pressed.
“Since when did you get so fucking talkative?” He hated the defensive tone of his voice and he really hated that he was taking his aggression out on his friend but he couldn’t stop himself.
Adam just chuckled. “I’m getting daily sex from my hot mate. Take my advice and just talk to your woman. If Paz and I can get past our differences, so can you and Caro.”
Ethan didn’t respond but glanced out the window instead. As he stared at the palm trees passing by he knew Adam was right even if he didn’t want to admit it. Paz was half-fae, half werewolf. Because of some Great War between faeries and werewolves that had happened a hell of a long time ago and way before Ethan’s time, the blood running through her veins made her and Adam natural enemies. They’d sure as hell worked past their differences.
Ethan knew he just needed to talk to Caro and they’d figure things out, but he didn’t know how to get her to open up. How to break through that polite wall she’d erected between them. Whatever had spooked her this morning was fixable. It had to be. The thought of life without her was bleak.
* * * * *
Caro strode through Nick and Carly’s house, mingling with her cousins, nieces and nephews. Her nephew Nick was celebrating his one-year anniversary with his human mate and everyone in the pack had shown up.
She knew Ethan was there because she could scent him even if she couldn’t see him. In the huge crowd, that spicy, earthy scent was unmistakable. It made her ache to run her fingers all over him again.
As she made her way through the kitchen she smiled at Alisha, her younger sister, but didn’t stop to talk. She didn’t miss the way her sister looked at her curiously but she ignored it. Obviously her sibling could scent Ethan on her.
Caro wanted to talk to Ethan. After the stupid way she’d acted that morning he deserved an explanation, but she didn’t know how to fix it. When she reached the sliding glass door, she froze in the entrance.
Ethan wasn’t doing anything wrong, just talking to Shea, the very pretty new she-wolf of their pack. She’d been rescued from the same doctor who’d injected Ethan and in her former life she’d been a runway model. Yeah, she wasn’t just pretty, she was gorgeous and tall and thin. The opposite of Caro. Self-consciously she wiped her hands down her dress and cursed her curves as she did.
Ethan must have said something funny because Shea laughed and lightly stroked his lower arm. Glancing away and taking a step back, Caro retreated back into the kitchen.
Her throat tightened and it didn’t matter that she knew she was being stupid, she couldn’t help it. She cared about Ethan more than she’d admit to anyone. The thought of him with another female tore her to shreds inside. Hurrying through the house, she ducked down one of the hallways and found an empty bathroom attached to one of the guestrooms. Out of the way from the normal foot traffic where she’d have a chance to breathe.
Shutting the door behind her, she set her purse down and splashed cold water on her face. As she started to pat her face dry, the door swung open.
In the mirror she watched Ethan step into the smaller room with a look she couldn’t quite put her finger on. Had he followed her? Her heart did a somersault against her ribs. “Hey, Ethan.”
His blue eyes narrowed on her. “Why’d you run away back there?”
She shook her head, as if she didn’t know what he was talking about. “I needed to use the restroom.”
He took a step closer so that he pressed against her back. The feel of his erection on her lower back was unmistakable. “Bullshit,” he whispered.
Her eyes grew heavy for a moment as he rubbed himself against her. She was still sore from last night but God help her, she wanted more of him. A lot more. Swallowing hard, she didn’t respond.
“I don’t want anyone else but you, Caro.” The statement came out as a possessive growl. “Shea and I are just friends if you need me to spell it out for you.”
“I know.” She hated the embarrassing flush she felt creep up her neck. “I’m sorry I…got a little nervous this morning.” That was an understatement. She’d been scared and had acted like a coward by pushing him away.
He snorted. “You can’t put me back into your friend category after last night. I won’t let you. If you’re worried about us or me, fine. We’ll talk about it. But I’m not playing games and I’m not letting you go.”
His words sent shivers of pleasure skittering over her entire body. Didn’t he just seem to know how to say exactly the right thing? She needed to tell him about her past so he understood why she’d been acting so stupid. After taking a deep breath, she forced the words out. “About a century ago…I fell in love—”
He growled softly, possessively and the sound made her smile. It also made it easier for her to continue. “We’d been together a long time. Had grown up together, in fact. I was never in a rush to officially get mated because I assumed…well, long story short, he left me when he found his true mate. We loved each other—or I thought we did—but the biological pull they felt for each other…well, I couldn’t compete with it.” Her throat tightened as she remembered the day her lover had told her that he’d be mating with someone else—directly after they’d made love. It had been humiliating and heartbreaking. She didn’t tell Ethan that part. It was too embarrassing.
“Any man who left you is a damn fool.” His hands slid down her hips to the hem of her dress. They were creeping into fall weather but it was Florida so the temperature was still in the seventies. She’d worn the short summer dress tonight for him, even if she hadn’t admitted it to herself.
As he slid the light blue dress up and over her hips, his eyes darkened to molten hot. He wasn’t a big talker and normally that would have bothered her but after what she’d just told him, she didn’t want words of sympathy or anything else. She just wanted to feel how good they were together. Staring at his reflection and seeing how turned on he was made her nipples instantly harden. Whatever happened later, at least she had this time with him.
His gaze tracked down to her chest and he smiled seductively. Without a bra, her reaction was visible. Not that he couldn’t scent her desire anyway.
He had to. Both their cravings filled the air with a potency that made her entire body hum.
She’d worn a thong so cool air rushed over the slick heat between her thighs. He hadn’t said a word but she could read in his eyes what he planned to do. Maybe
she should feel a little bad that they’d left the party to have sex in her nephew’s bathroom, but right now she didn’t care.
Propriety could be damned. Especially when she had a man like Ethan who wanted her. Even if it wasn’t forever, it was enough for now.
While keeping one hand bunched on the bottom of her dress—and keeping her butt exposed for him to softly grind against—he reached up with his other hand and pulled the tie on the halter free. The top of her dress slackened and fell, revealing both her tingling breasts.
She couldn’t stop her erratic breathing as he stared at her. His eyes practically glowed in the dim light of the bathroom as they tracked over her chest. As if he wanted to devour her.
“I’m going to fuck you right now, sweetheart.” His voice was rough and scarcely controlled.
It mirrored the way she felt. Even though they were barely moving, she felt as if she could crawl out of her skin. She braced her hands on the countertop as he reached up and cupped both her breasts.
The hem of her dress fell back down but she still felt exposed to him, especially with the slight way he kept rubbing his pelvis against her backside.
His hands were calloused but gentle as they held her. “These are mine to touch.”
His words sent off fireworks in her body, making the ache between her legs even hotter. She sucked in a deep breath as he began tweaking her already aroused nipples. The feel of his hands on her like this sent another rush of heat to her already wet pussy.
When she didn’t respond, he stilled. “Say it, Caro.” Ethan needed to hear the words come from her. After the day he’d spent twisted up and worried about what was going on with them, he wanted everything she had to give tonight. To pull her out of her comfort zone and get her to open up.
“They’re yours.” Her voice was shaky but definitely aroused.
He felt almost drugged as he palmed her sensitive breasts. Touching her and watching their bodies in the mirror like this was erotic and better than any of his fantasies. He wanted to strip her completely but he didn’t want to pull away long enough to do it. Feeling her up against him like this was exactly what he craved. Her heat, her body, just…her.
When her eyes grew heavy and started to close, he lightly squeezed her breasts. Her dark eyes instantly snapped open.
“Watch us,” he commanded.
She nodded and the hungry shimmer in her eyes was unmistakable. She wanted this as much as he.
They were far enough away from the party that no one should hear them but they were in a house full of wolves with extrasensory abilities so he knew they’d have to be fairly quiet. He hated pulling away from her, but his cock ached and was demanding to push inside Caro’s tight pussy.
Lowering his hands away from her, he quickly unfastened his jeans and let them fall halfway down his legs. He rarely bothered with boxers and now that he and Caro were involved, he doubted he’d ever bother again.
His cock sprang free and he grasped the edge of her thong. With shaking hands he shoved it down her legs.
She let out a small little gasp as he palmed and rubbed her ass. Everything about her was perfect and taking her from behind had quickly become one of his favorite positions. Last night they’d made love countless times and each time he’d had to resist the urge to actually mark her.
Right now was no different.
His canines ached to extend and sink into the soft flesh of her neck. The sudden need was more overwhelming now than it had been last night. Somehow he pushed it back. If he marked her without her consent she’d never forgive him. Hell, he’d never forgive himself.
The whole mating thing was still a mystery to him but he knew what he felt for her was different than anything he’d experienced before. He knew it was real and that it wouldn’t change.
When she pushed her butt back against him, he groaned. Grabbing his cock in one hand, he guided himself to her entrance and thrust inside her.
Her tight sheath wrapped around him like hot silk. He could feel her rippling and tightening around him. Moaning, she tried to push back on him. His inner wolf told him to take her hard and fast but right now he wanted to enjoy being inside her.
They’d only been apart a few hours but all the uncertainty he’d experienced had been foreign and he needed to convince himself she was real. That this was real.
“Do something.” Caro gripped the counter and tried to move against Ethan but he held her firmly.
If anything, his eyes danced with humor. She didn’t know what was so funny and she didn’t care. Her body burned for release and she’d kill him if he didn’t give it to her.
When she tried to move back against him again, he sighed and seductively nipped her neck. “You have no patience,” he murmured, chuckling lightly.
As he nibbled against her neck she had a sudden vision of him biting her, marking her for life. A quiver of longing ran through her.
Shoving the thoughts away, she reached between her legs and began stroking her clit while he watched.
All humor fled his face and his eyes turned to dark storm clouds. He grabbed her hips in a tight, dominating hold that made her entire body light on fire. She loved it when he took control. Right now she didn’t want gentle, but hard and fast.
As he began moving inside her, she increased rubbing her clit. The added stimulation and the feel of him completely filling her made her knees weak.
The harder he pounded into her, the tighter she clenched around him. The higher she felt herself rising. Erotic ecstasy poured through her veins as they watched each other in the mirror.
She couldn’t take her eyes off him. His arm muscles clenched furiously and his neck corded tightly as he moved. Harder and faster.
A flash of color sparked in front of her eyes for a brief moment as her climax hit fast and out of control. Clutching the counter with both hands, she used it for support as her orgasm bloomed, spreading to all her nerve endings.
Behind her Ethan let out a loud cry as he came. She could feel his warm heat inside her as he found his own release.
Gently, he pulled out and turned her to face him. Cupping her face, he said, “Don’t ever doubt my need for you. What we have…this isn’t going away for me.” The soft spoken words made her throat tight with emotion but she didn’t respond.
He didn’t seem to expect one. After he grabbed a washcloth from beneath the cabinet, he wet it with warm water and surprised her by gently swiping between her legs.
Holding her dress up, she leaned against the counter and kept her legs spread while she watched him clean her up. His consideration touched her. She couldn’t remember the last time a man had taken care of her. Not like this anyway.
Watching his big hands move with such gentleness brought up a foreign swelling in her chest. She could definitely get used to this. And she wanted to trust him, but that old fear whispering in the back of her head warned her that things would eventually end between them.
When Ethan looked up at her with nothing but warmth in his gaze, he covered her mouth in a soft, tender kiss that took her breath away, silencing the noisy bitch in her head.
Chapter Three
Two Weeks Later
Caro set her hair dryer on her marble countertop and paused. Was that a knock on her front door? It was still too early for Ethan to be here. He’d had to work late on a new job today, but she’d given him a key anyway.
As she ran a brush through her hair, she heard a definite, loud banging. Frowning, she hurried toward the front door. When she neared it, she froze. The scent of the male outside was unmistakable.
Francisco. Her ex.
Years ago she would have done anything to see his handsome face one more time. Now she felt…annoyance. What the hell could he possibly be doing here? Frowning, she pulled the tie on her silky robe tighter around herself.
“Caro? Are you home?” Same deep voice.
Yep. Definitely him. Why hadn’t he called first? Sighing, she opened the door. “Hello, Francisco?” It ca
me out like a question because she couldn’t help it.
“Caro. You look beautiful.” He smiled warmly and made a move to embrace her but she crossed her arms over her chest and leaned back.
He looked exactly the same. Maybe a few years older but he’d aged very well. Same olive complexion and lean, dark Italian good looks. And he wore a tie and suit. Armani, if she had to guess. Kind of stupid considering Miami’s humid weather, but she didn’t really care about that. She wanted to know why he was on her front porch. “What are you doing here? Have you contacted my Alpha to let him know you’re in town?” Pack law dictated that any outsider encroaching on another territory—even if they were just passing through—had to notify the residing Alpha of their presence.
He shrugged, as if it were no big deal. “I wanted to see you first. You’re his sister-in-law. I figured it would be okay.”
She gritted her teeth, annoyed at his arrogant attitude. “So what are you doing here?”
He shrugged again in that nonchalant way of his that she used to love. As if nothing in the world mattered. “I was passing through and thought I’d look you up.” Evasive answer. Likely a lie, if she scented right.
“We haven’t seen each other in a century and you just wanted to look me up?” She arched an eyebrow.
“Aren’t you going to invite me inside for a drink?” He pasted on a smile she supposed was meant to be charming but just came off as fake. After being with a man like Ethan it was hard to believe she’d ever wanted someone like Francisco.
“Fine. You can come in for a quick one but I’m calling my Alpha first.” While she didn’t want to share a drink with him, she also didn’t want to chance her Alpha finding out he was hanging around Miami. Lucas was diplomatic but he also hated Francisco and she didn’t want any unnecessary drama.
“You look really great, Caro. You’re practically glowing,” he said as she shut the door behind them.
Instead of responding, she turned on her heel and led him to the kitchen. After calling Lucas and letting him know there was a visiting wolf in town, she grabbed a beer from the fridge for Francisco.
DesireUnleashed Page 3
