He picked up the bottle and eyed it with slight disdain. “You don’t have anything foreign?”
“That’s what I’ve got. Take it or leave it.” She didn’t care that she sounded rude. It was just like him to barge in and then be picky about his choice of drink. And that was Ethan’s beer. For some reason it annoyed her Francisco seemed to think it was beneath him.
“You’re not happy to see me.” He frowned slightly as if hurt, and she felt a twinge of guilt. Maybe she was being too harsh.
“It’s not that. I don’t understand why you’re here.” Plus she had plans with Ethan soon. Plans that did not involve someone else.
“I… Maria…” His voice trailed off and for a moment she felt like a total bitch. If his mate had died she’d never forgive herself for being so cold to him.
“Is everything okay?”
He shook his head and gave her a mournful look. “Can we go outside and talk? I need some fresh air.”
“Uh, sure.” She nodded at the sliding glass door that led to the lanai. As he strode toward it, she grabbed a beer for herself. She might not like him but if he needed a friend, she could be decent.
Outside she sat on one of the chairs next to him at the patio table. “What’s going on?”
“Maria left me.”
Caro jerked back slightly at his statement. That, she hadn’t been expecting. Mated wolves didn’t just leave each other on a whim. The biological bonds were practically unbreakable, especially if the couple was in love. Leaving was virtually unheard of. “Left you?”
He nodded and took a big swig of his beer.
She frowned at him. “What happened?”
“I don’t want to talk about it. I just wanted to see a friendly face.” He leaned forward and made a move to cup her cheek.
Her eyes widened in shock as it clicked why he was there. Did he think he’d get some sympathy sex from her? She started to pull away when a loud, unexpected growl ripped through the air and Francisco went flying across the tiled patio. Caro’s eyes widened as she realized Ethan had tackled him. She hadn’t even heard him enter the house.
Still wearing his tool belt, Ethan stood over Francisco in his dirty jeans and T-shirt. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” His voice was a low, deadly growl.
Francisco had never been a fighter but he pushed up and snarled back. “Who the hell are you?”
Ethan took a menacing step forward. “Answer the fucking question.”
Francisco looked past Ethan to Caro for help but she just stared at him. She wanted an answer too.
Finally he faced Ethan again. “I’m just visiting an old friend.”
“Looked like you had different intentions.”
Francisco shrugged. “We were once more than friends and—”
Lightning fast, Ethan’s hand wrapped around the other wolf’s neck and lifted him off the ground. “I got a call from my Alpha that you were here after he got word from your Alpha. You can’t even stay faithful to your own mate and you want to come sniffing around mine?”
Caro gasped. “You cheated on Maria?” No wonder she’d left him.
“Not only that, he got her sister pregnant,” Ethan ground out.
Caro felt sick to her stomach. She’d never actually met the other she-wolf, but no one should have to deal with something like that. “What’s the matter with you, Francisco?”
He coughed and struggled until Ethan finally put him down. “I don’t care about her sister. I just wanted to continue my line. We’ve tried but Maria can’t get pregnant—”
“Get out.” She shook her head. She didn’t care what his excuse was and she didn’t care about him. Looking at him now made nausea rise inside her. He was a pathetic excuse for a male and if he wanted sympathy from her, he was looking in the wrong place.
“But, Caro—”
Ethan grabbed him by the collar and dragged him toward the door as he sputtered. Caro didn’t try to stop him. As he shoved the other wolf inside, she collapsed on one of the lounge chairs and stretched her legs out. What a crazy day. It was a little surreal that her ex had shown up but she felt surprisingly fine about it. Well, she felt bad for his mate.
When Ethan walked back through the sliding glass door, she frowned at his dark expression. “Did he give you any trouble?”
Instead of responding, he unhooked his tool belt and let it fall as he stalked toward her. She started to push up to a sitting position, but he moved fast and covered her body with his much bigger one. She spread her legs wider to accommodate him as he settled between her thighs.
His breathing was harsh and erratic. “Did he hurt you?”
She frowned and shook her head. “No. He’s harmless. Stupid, but harmless.” And she didn’t want to talk about him. Not even a little bit. Rolling her hips, she smiled as Ethan’s eyes darkened.
Caressing her face, he growled softly. “I don’t like anyone touching what’s mine.”
Her pussy dampened at his words. She hadn’t bothered putting on panties while getting ready because she’d known he’d be home soon. If she’d been wearing anything, it would be soaked. “Yours, huh?” she whispered. He’d been calling her that since they’d crossed the line from friendship to lovers and she loved it.
His hand covered her mound and he pushed a finger inside her. The unexpected intrusion made her inner walls tighten. When he pushed another one inside her she raked her teeth over his neck. He was salty, earthy, and all male. All hers.
As he began dragging his fingers in and out, something he’d said earlier registered in her mind. You can’t even stay faithful to your own mate and you want to come sniffing around mine. He’d basically called her his mate when he’d been yelling at her ex. She quickly drew back.
His blue eyes glittered. “You finally realize what I said before, huh?”
She didn’t want to jump to conclusions but her heart rate increased and her pussy dampened even more. Did he mean he wanted to claim her? Ever since that night in her nephew’s bathroom she’d known Ethan was it for her. She’d felt the mating call in a way she’d only dreamed about. It registered inside her soul deep but he hadn’t mentioned anything so she’d held her tongue. “What did you say?”
The intense expression he wore made her heart pound. “You are mine. I intend to mark you tonight, Caro. I don’t want to wait any more.” His eyes seemed to glow against the fading daylight.
He’d been waiting? “Are you sure?” The question was a strangled whisper. Unexpected tears pricked her eyes.
“I’ve been sure since you decided to put me in your little friend category. I didn’t understand it was the mating desire at first, but it’s more than that to me. I…I love you, woman. If you want to wait, fine, but—”
She didn’t let him finish. She sure as hell didn’t want to wait. Her mouth met his in a hungry dance. His tongue stroked hers the way it had countless times in the past couple weeks. The absolute rightness she felt with him was overwhelming.
As if they were meant to be together. Something she’d never felt with anyone before. Whatever she’d felt for Francisco all those years ago, it hadn’t even been close to this.
The front of her robe slackened then fell open as Ethan moved with deft hands. The cool Atlantic breeze flowed over her even though she was covered by his body.
He began a trail of kisses along her jaw until he stopped to nibble on her ear. Shivers rolled over her as he began softly rubbing her breasts.
“Is your pool heated?” he murmured against her neck.
Since it was close to fall she’d turned on the heat to combat the sometimes breezy wind. She hadn’t used the pool much in the past couple weeks but now she was thankful she’d kept the heater on. “Oh yeah.”
He quickly pushed off her and began stripping off his shirt, boots, and finally his jeans. She’d already shrugged out of her robe but the shudder she experienced had nothing to do with the slight wind and everything to do with the rock-hard, perfect male in front of her.<
br />
The past couple weeks with him had helped her shed her insecurities in so many ways. When Ethan looked at her with such raw hunger, it was hard to doubt herself.
As she sauntered toward the shallow end, she watched as he tracked her movements. He looked every bit the predator as his gaze followed her.
The warm water rushed over her feet, calves and thighs but she didn’t go any deeper than that. Not until Ethan joined her.
When she scooped water up with her hands and let the warmth spill down her breasts it was as if he jerked out of a trance. His movements were purposeful as he slipped into the pool and glided toward her.
Ethan had been biding his time, waiting to tell Caro he wanted to officially mate. He hadn’t planned to ask her today, but after seeing that asshole try to touch her something had snapped inside him. As soon as he’d gotten the call from his Alpha—who’d likely known what his reaction would be—he’d rushed over. Her ex was lucky he was still walking.
Ethan didn’t care about that now, though. All he wanted was to claim Caro as his. He didn’t know why he’d been waiting. They fit together. When he wasn’t with her, he was thinking about her. And when he was with her, he’d never been more content in his entire damn life. Even though she hadn’t said it, he knew she loved him too. He’d felt it in the way she’d kissed him after he’d admitted his feelings. She wouldn’t be bonding with him otherwise.
Before he reached her, she’d lifted her hands out for him in a welcoming gesture that made him ache for her even more. Her delicate fingers slid up his chest and around his neck as their bodies joined.
She kissed his neck and shoulders as she lifted up and wrapped her legs around him. Just the feel of her lips on his body was enough to make him combust. Her sweet, unique, spring rain scent surrounded him.
Holding her hips, he moved them through the water until they were near the wall of the pool. They’d done things hard and fast then soft and slow but right now his inner beast needed the mating.
Needed to mark her.
Sliding his hands up from her hips, he lightly cupped her breasts and bent to nuzzle her neck. His heart felt like it was going to explode. “I need to be inside you, sweetheart.”
She drew back from kissing his neck and softly smiled. Wordlessly, she let her legs drop and turned toward the wall. Over her shoulder, she looked at him so trustingly, he felt honored she’d chosen him to be her mate.
Palming one of her hips, he grabbed his cock with his other hand and guided it to her entrance. He didn’t bother to test her slickness since he’d felt it on the lounge chair. She was soaked and it was all for him.
It seemed it didn’t matter how many times he had her, he was always hungry for more. Seeing her like this, bent forward, surrendering to him, hands braced on the ledge, it pleased the most primitive part of him.
He needed to mark her but he needed her to come first. His primal side might be telling him to take her hard but the man in him wanted her to feel as much pleasure as he did. Since he’d been a part of their world, he’d come to learn that shifters were a superstitious bunch. This mating had to go right.
When she pushed back against him and moaned, his throat tightened. Yeah, it was going to be hard to keep his control now.
“Hold onto the edge,” he whispered against her neck. His chest rubbed against her smooth back and even that got him hot.
While she held on, he began thrusting. Slow, steady strokes. Reaching around her, he palmed her breasts and tweaked her nipples.
The moment he started teasing her, he felt the reaction in her tight pussy. She clenched even harder around him. With each push inside her, he felt himself spinning out of control.
Her inner walls gripped around him with no mercy. The faster he moved, the more she rippled around him until she was panting in the same erratic rhythm he was.
His heart thumped rapidly and his cock felt like a steel club between his legs. When she let out a loud groan, those ripples intensified until her climax crashed over her. It was almost as if he could feel her pleasure.
As she moaned, he finally let go of his control. His canines extended the way they’d ached to for months when around her. His inner wolf had known they were linked even before he’d realized it.
Brushing her hair to the side, he bent to her neck and let his canines sink into her soft flesh. The instant he broke the skin, he came. His orgasm ripped through him like a freight train. The intensity was like nothing he’d ever experienced.
Pleasure shot to all his nerve endings and his abdomen bunched tight as he let out a loud growl. He didn’t care if all of Miami heard them.
Caro was his.
And he was hers.
He withdrew his mouth from her and even though he hated to pull out of her, he did. But he didn’t keep his hands off her sweet body. Turning her around, he drew her close and buried his head against her neck while she nuzzled his chest.
He wasn’t sure how much time had passed while they held each other but he finally broke the silence. “Did I hurt you?”
He could feel her smile against his chest. She shook her head. “Not even close.” Then she pulled her head back and looked at him. Her dark eyes glittered with desire and satisfaction. Keeping her gaze on him, she reached up and gingerly touched where he’d bitten her.
Can you hear me? Her voice sounded clear in his head.
Smiling, he nodded. Now you’re going to know every wicked thing I want to do to your body.
“Good.” She grinned mischievously and wrapped her legs around his waist. “I love you so much, Ethan. I can’t believe I ever thought we could just be friends.”
“Me neither,” he murmured before capturing her mouth with his.
About the Author
Savannah Stuart has been reading romance for as long as she can remember but she didn’t always know she wanted to be a writer. After graduating with a degree in psychology and working too many jobs she hated, she finally figured things out. When she discovered erotic romance, she knew she’d found her niche. Her stories have a touch of intrigue, suspense or the paranormal, but the one thing she always includes is a happy ending.
She lives in the south within walking distance of the beach with her very own real-life hero, their dog and a couple of turtles who have adopted them.
Savannah welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email address on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.
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Also by Savannah Stuart
Adrianna’s Cowboy
Better Late Than Never
Heated Mating
Miami Scorcher 1: Unleashed Temptation
Miami Scorcher 2: Worth the Risk
Miami Scorcher 3: Power Unleashed
Miami Scorcher 4: Dangerous Craving
Tempting Alibi
Tempting Target
Discover for yourself why readers can’t get enough of the multiple award-winning publisher Ellora’s Cave. Whether you prefer e-books or paperbacks, be sure to visit EC on the web at www.ellorascave.com for an erotic reading experience that will leave you breathless.
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