by Bianca D'Arc
He couldn’t stop himself. He put his arms around her, offering comfort. She was stiff at first, but seemed to accept his hug and then returned it, burrowing her face into his neck. She fit against him perfectly, like she’d been designed to compliment his shape exactly.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart,” he whispered, kissing her temple. She tasted sweet and smelled divine. His senses were drunk of the feel of her in his arms. It was a heady sensation.
He let his hands shape her waist, and hips. She was luscious in a way that made his mouth water, but he had to keep his head. She wasn’t for him. She was human. She didn’t know anything about wolf packs, and his was so messed up right now, it would be difficult for even a woman raised in a pack to deal with.
But she felt so good in his arms. So right. So perfect. How could any red-blooded man resist her?
Shane bent his head lower to seek her lips and, wonder of wonders, she not only met his kiss, but returned it. His arms tightened around her as their lips combined for the sweetest of kisses he’d ever shared with any woman.
Oh, yeah. She tasted like a confection of light and air, dreams and hope. She was a drug to his senses, bathing him in her warmth. It was almost too much to bear…
He broke the kiss, hugging her tight. He couldn’t allow this to continue, but he also couldn’t let her go right away. If this short moment of joy was all he would have of her, he wanted to make it last.
One thing was for certain—he couldn’t touch her once he brought her to the pack lands. Anyone who saw them like this would know how easily she could be used against him. Anyone who suspected what she meant to him could easily destroy him, by destroying her.
For her own protection, he had to keep his distance, but he also couldn’t leave her out here in the human world, in danger. He could protect her at the pack house, but he still had to keep a certain distance between them.
Which meant no kissing. No touching. Not even any long, lingering glances. He’d have to be on his toes. Nobody could know that her continued existence was key to his sanity.
He let her go by small degrees. Holding her here, in the privacy of her house, was safe enough for now, but after this, he couldn’t touch her again. For her own good.
“We should go, sweetheart,” he said, realizing as he said it that the endearments that had slipped into his speech would have to go as well. She had to be professor from here on out.
Only he would know that when he called her professor, he was really calling her sweetheart in his mind. For that’s the only place they could be together…in his dreams.
Chapter Four
They drove to the pack house quickly. Shane had talked her into letting him drive her ancient vehicle and after a few minutes, he began to appreciate what she saw in the old relic. It was stubborn, but had it where it counted. He could relate to that.
He was glad of the open top, which made conversing more difficult because of the rushing wind. He didn’t really know what to say to comfort her right now. Her home had been violated by members of his pack, and that was on him. If he’d been a stronger Alpha to this point, maybe he’d have a little more control over the dickheads in his pack.
He hated to air his problems, but he thought maybe another call to Aric Wolfe was in order. He’d been there with solid advice for Shane in the past. And he had a mate now. Maybe Aric could give him pointers on how to stay sane while worrying about the security of a lone female. Shane had never had to deal with his wolf’s reaction to a potential mate before and it was distracting as hell.
Why the two wolves from his pack had targeted Maria was even more troublesome. Had someone somehow guessed that she could be important to him? He didn’t think it likely since he’d only just figured that out himself. But what other reason could those two have had for setting her up? Were they just being assholes because she was openly interested in studying shifters? Or were those two used to attacking defenseless women?
Either way, they were up for a beating, at the very least. Once he knew what he was dealing with, he was going to have to find a solution. He might even have to put them down if they really were making a habit of preying on women, but he needed a confession, or proof, to invoke the strictest penalty. He wasn’t an unreasonable man, and he had to lead as he expected his pack mates to act—fairly and according to the laws of their people.
“What is this place?” she asked as he ushered her inside the big house.
“This was the old Alpha’s home. Ivan came from a big family, though he ended up with no heir at the end. After he lost his mate, he opened the house up to anyone in the pack who needed help. People come and go, but they always know they have a place here if they need an assist. I liked that about Ivan’s leadership, so I kept it up when I took over.”
She walked past him into the foyer and he did his best to control his reaction to her nearness and delectable scent. There were other pack members living here and he didn’t want any of them noticing just how attracted he was to the human. As far as they were concerned, he was giving her sanctuary—as he had each of them—in a time of need.
While it was true that there hadn’t been a human in the house in a long time, if ever, it was also true that she was in danger because of his pack. That was his responsibility and he was going to straighten things out. The only safe place to keep her while he did so was right here, where he knew she would be safe.
“Shane!” A little voice piped up from the archway that led to the large living room.
A moment later, a little body tackled his knees. Mina was one of his favorite guests in the pack house. A five-year-old dynamo of a girl, she and her family had fallen on hard times after a house fire, and were doing their best to regroup while their house was rebuilt by her father and a group of helpful pack members.
Shane bent down and picked up the little girl, settling her on his hip as he walked into the living room, Maria following his lead. Sure enough, Mina’s mother Patty was sitting on the couch, crocheting something that looked like it might possibly become a sweater for the little girl. Patty stopped working with her yarn the moment she scented Maria. It wasn’t often that unknown humans came this far into their territory.
“Patty, this is Dr. Maria Rojas, old Lulu’s niece. She’s going to stay here for tonight. There’s been some trouble at her place,” Shane said, leaning to place Mina down on the couch. “Pack trouble,” he emphasized, meeting Patty’s questioning gaze, then turning to address his guest. “Maria, this is Patty Longfeather and her daughter, Mina.” He turned back to Patty. “Where’s Bob?”
Patty’s mate Bob was ostensibly Shane’s second-in-command as Beta of the pack. He and Patty had held the pack together as Ivan aged and they were Shane’s biggest allies, though he didn’t know they well yet. The unfortunate fire at their house had turned out to be a good thing for Shane, since they were staying with him while their house was rebuilt and he was getting to know them both much better. They were good people, with strong values. Just the kind of folk he wanted in his pack. And they were a good example to the others.
“Bob’s still out at the house, working late with the boys. He wants to get the roof on while the weather is cooperating. He’ll be in later.”
Mina tugged on Shane’s pant leg and blinked up at him with big brown eyes. “Your friend’s not a wolf, Shane,” she kid-whispered loud enough for everyone to hear.
Shane bent down to Mina’s level, tapping her on the nose with his index finger as he grinned. “You’re right. She’s not. Good nose, kiddo. Maria is human and she needs my protection for a little while, until I straighten out a little problem she’s having with two grown wolves who should know better.”
Shane saw Patty’s frown, but he wasn’t saying anything more in front of the kid.
*
Maria’s head was still whirling from the unexpected kiss Shane had laid on her back at her place, when he showed her to a well-appointed guest room. The colors were rich earth tones, and the fabrics appeared to b
e natural fibers. Overall, the small bedroom looked both neutral and inviting. A perfect place to regroup. A sanctuary, of sorts.
She turned in the doorway to thank him, but Shane was much closer than she’d expected. She bumped into him and his arm went around her waist to steady her. Their eyes met and her breath caught. Fire leapt in his eyes and for just the slightest moment, she thought she could see the wolf glowing in his eyes.
A second later, he was kissing her. And worse—she was kissing him back.
She vaguely heard the soft click of the door as it closed behind him. His hands were on her body, shaping her ass and lifting her closer. She opened her legs as he lifted, powerless to deny the animal attraction she’d been fighting all night. Shane was one hot wolf-man and she’d had to fight every instinct in her body since that devastating kiss.
It was as if that kiss had flipped a switch inside her. From calm, controlled, cool Maria to hot momma on the prowl. She’d never wanted to climb a man like a tree before, but she realized she was doing a good imitation of that right now. Her knees were around his hips, her ankles locked somewhere under his drool-worthy butt.
And he was moving. No, he was walking. Toward the bed.
A moment later, she was under him, his arms resting on either side of her head as he continued to kiss the living daylights out of her. The mattress was soft under her, his body hard and hot above. Perfect.
Hands roamed. Hers. His. Touching, molding, unfastening clothing until they were both naked and their combined temperature rivaled that of the sun. There was no waiting. No questioning. No second thoughts. There was only him. And her. Together on the tiniest bed in creation.
She almost laughed as he saved them from tumbling to the floor yet again, but the moment was too intense. His fingers were stroking over her skin, touching the eager points of her nipples and then ghosting lower as his mouth took over the exploration of her chest. He licked at the sensitive mounds, driving her need higher as his he lowered one hand to the apex of her thighs.
He sought and found the sensitive button there, hidden in slick folds. Expertly, he teased her, causing her to whimper in need. That sound brought a sexy growl from his throat and she had the vague thought that he wasn’t fully human. That should probably scare her, but she didn’t care. He was here and he felt right. Righter than any man she’d ever been this close to in the past. None could even come close to the way Shane made her feel.
He found her entrance with one long finger, sliding up and in, followed closely by a second finger, as she squirmed in his grip. She wasn’t squirming to get away, but to get closer. She wanted more of him. More of the incredible feelings he evoked in her body.
This was too fast and she probably should be objecting, but she couldn’t bring herself to stop these incredible feelings. It had been so long for her, and sex had never felt like this before. Never. There was something special about Shane.
Maybe werewolves had special sexual mojo, but she’d never really heard anything to that effect. Still, going by how easily Shane brought her to the precipice of pleasure, over and over again, she was formulating a few theories. Or maybe it was just Shane, himself. Maybe he was the special factor that had her panting in eagerness for his possession.
Whatever the cause of these incredible feelings, she didn’t want them to stop. Possibly ever. Even though she knew it was impossible. He was the Alpha wolf. She was human. The most they could have was a hot, torrid affair. Maybe only a one-night-stand. She didn’t hold out much hope that she’d be able to keep his interest, but while she had his attention right now, she was going to do her damndest to enjoy every single moment.
Shane was using his fingers in the most delightful way, sliding in and out of her channel, hitting a hidden spot that made her shiver and moan. He seemed spurred on by the sounds torn from her throat and he was growling a bit, but the sound wasn’t scary. It was intensely exciting. And the look in his eyes, when she met them, was one of utter concentration and flaming desire. He was as into this as she was, which made her feel like some kind of sex goddess, which was pretty amazing in itself.
Usually, she didn’t have much confidence in this kind of situation, which was why she didn’t indulge all that often. Most of the time, she felt frumpy and a bit confused about what men expected of her. She hadn’t had a serious guy friend since leaving her last job, and she hadn’t really missed all the second-guessing of herself—what she wore, how she did her hair, whether or not she put on makeup. All those little things tended to become lost to her when she was involved in a research project, and her last boyfriend had criticized her for it.
He had undermined her confidence as a woman and she’d pretty much just given up after breaking up with him. At least for a little while. She wasn’t quite ready to dip her toes in the treacherous dating waters again.
And yet, here she was, in bed with the hottest male animal she’d ever observed. And she meant that in the most complimentary way. The thought brought a smile to her face and he cocked his head, watching her.
“I tried to stay away, but you’re the sexiest woman I’ve ever known,” he whispered in that low, growly tone that made her cream flow. His eyes flared as he felt the evidence of her arousal against his fingers. “You like that?” It was his turn to flash her a devastating smile. “It’s only the truth. You’re sexy, professor, and I hope you’re ready, because now I’m going to send us both to the stars.”
“I’m…ready…” she whispered between panting breaths. She wanted to say something about how she’d never been readier in her entire life, but she couldn’t get the words out. He’d made her breathless, and they haven’t even done the deed yet.
She really liked that he’d called her sexy. Even if it was just something he said to all the women he slept with. Based on his performance so far, she judged that he’d had a lot of experience with the opposite sex. Not that she was complaining. She was glad he knew just what he wanted and how to get it. She was tired of tentative men. She liked being dominated, just a little, by her lover.
That was a revelation about herself she’d have to examine later. At the moment, her mind was being blown by the way he played her body. Without much foreplay at all, she was readier than she’d ever been. She didn’t want to wait any longer. She wanted him inside her. Now.
He seemed to understand her urgency. His body covered hers like a warm, male blanket. He met her gaze, looking deeply into her eyes as he made room for himself between her thighs.
She moved to accommodate, eager for him and not wanting him to stop this amazing feeling. Ever.
He leaned down to kiss her, nuzzling her face, seeming to sniff gently at her skin. Maybe it was a wolf thing, but whatever it was, she found his attention flattering and…oddly comforting. It was as if he wanted to remember her scent, her feel. He wanted to remember her, and not just some random encounter with a willing female. He made her feel special.
He lifted his head to meet her gaze again as he began to take possession. His hard cock invaded her slippery channel, giving as well as taking, the unspoken message in his eyes making her feel…cherished.
Maybe she was reading too much into his actions, but for this moment out of time she felt like she was really connecting with another being for the first time in her life. There was no need for words. There was only feeling…and that soul-touching look in his expressive brown eyes.
He filled her, the fit snug but delicious. She squirmed a bit under him, but he stilled her by pinning her to the small bed with his hard body. Oh, yeah.
He was watching her. “You okay?”
“Mm. Never better,” she was able to get out despite the moan of appreciation that was building in her chest. When he smiled—just that crooked hint of a grin—she felt her insides shiver.
“Then hang on, professor.” That was all the warning he gave her before he started moving within her, thrusting and pushing against her most sensitive places. Her legs were spread wide to accommodate him and she wrapped h
er ankles around his waist to give him the best access she could.
She wanted it all, and he didn’t disappoint. What followed was the wildest, most tender lovemaking she’d ever experienced, right up until the point where he bit her, and even that only made her want to scream in fulfillment. He picked his moment, sinking his teeth into her shoulder almost as if he couldn’t control himself, right at the split second she began to come.
The pain somehow intensified her climax, though she never would have thought such a thing possible before experiencing it. Maybe it was a werewolf thing. Yet another mystery of the shifters she had known nothing about, but was happy to learn—not for any academic reason, but because it made her fly right up to the stars and linger there far longer than she ever had in her life, rolling in the bliss that Shane had brought her.
He was there too. She could feel him come long and hard within her. She felt the way his arms tensed around her, the way his bite intensified everything. She felt a deep, feminine satisfaction that she’d brought him to this state. Just as he’d done for her. It was a mutual thing that made her feel so…amazing.
Everything about this encounter was that—amazing.
She might’ve passed out after that. She wasn’t sure. The only thing she knew was that she roused when he picked her up off the narrow bed and walked with her out into the hallway. She had a vague notion that there were other people in the house that might see her naked as he walked down the hall with her in his arms, but it didn’t seem to matter.
Not right then. Not when she was literally being swept off her feet for the first time in her entire life. Maria was no hundred-pound waif. No, her Latina heritage and love of food kept her at a healthy, if curvy, size. No man had even tried to pick her up and carry her before—not since she was a child.
She might’ve been embarrassed if Shane had shown the least discomfort, but his shifter muscles and incredible physique made her feel truly delicate for the first time in a long, long time. He carried her as if she weighed nothing at all and her self-conscious thoughts fled at the smoldering look in his glowing eyes as he elbowed open a door farther down the hall.
