by Mason, Marie
“What if I don’t want to make love?”
He placed one hand over her breast, plucking at her hardened nipple. “Oh, baby, I think you do.”
He moved his mouth along her jaw, searching for hers. He crushed his lips against hers. His bear hummed his approval. They were silky and warm, the softness giving beneath the hard pressure. Touching her sent a bolt of lust racing through him. Knowing he’d never get another chance to make a good first impression, he set out to seduce her with a kiss. He licked the seam of her lips and felt another shiver run through her curvy frame. Here she tasted of the chocolate dessert he’d convinced her to try. What dark heaven awaited him inside? “Open for me,” he commanded. When she didn’t obey, he squeezed her breast, his fingers imprinting on her soft flesh. “Now, Paige.”
Her lips parted slowly, giving him only a small slit of space. He took advantage and invaded her mouth with his tongue. He plundered and prodded, tasting everything. The kiss was not a soft kiss by any means. It was neither the hard, branding kiss he desired. “More, baby. More.”
He nipped at her lips, forcing them wider. She moaned and kissed him back. Capturing his tongue, hers dueled with his, almost demanding dominance. Not bloody likely. He did, however, let her into his mouth, wanting her to taste him, as much as he wanted to taste her. He angled his head this way and that, mimicking sex with the thrust and retreat of his tongue. Against his better judgment, knowing this night could end right here, right now, he moved his other hand from the door to cup her ass cheek. The flesh there was as soft and yielding as her breast. He forced his leg between hers, lifting her slightly until her core rested on his thigh. He wanted nothing more than to grind her against his dick. Or better yet, grind his dick inside her.
He broke off the kiss, panting against her mouth. “Give me your keys.”
“So you can love me?” Her breath whispered into his mouth.
“Yes, damn it.”
He felt her smile before she moved, sliding her lips to his ear. “But what if I don’t want you to love me?” she purred before biting down sharply on the lobe. “What if I want you to fuck me. Fuck me hard and fast.”
Quinn froze. Had he just heard her correctly? This was not a woman who radiated I-need-a-cock-and-I-need-it-in-me-now vibe.
“Please, Quinn. You just feel right. This feels right.” Again, the soft whisper of her voice, that damn phone-sex-in-the middle-of-the night voice that was capable of making a man come where he stood. “I need you.” She groaned the word need, rubbing her pussy against his thigh like a hungry kitten seeking sustenance. “So bad.”
Damn, if she wasn’t getting into the role of sex kitten. He wasted no more time politely asking for the keys. Taking them from her hand, he unlocked the door. Once opened, he picked her up and carried her inside before closing it behind him with a sharp kick.
One step over the threshold and the heat between them exploded. He wasn’t even able to make it to the bedroom, hell, even the couch, before he backed her up against the door. She melted against him, the hard tips of her breast digging into his chest. God, her breasts were beautiful. He filled each of his hands, squeezing as he continued to kiss her. He couldn’t seem to get enough of her. Reluctantly, he let go of the abundant flesh and his fingers made quick work of the buttons on her blouse. She wore a white bra, her red, rosy nipples visible through the sheer lace. He lowered his mouth, taking one inside, fabric and all. Needing more, he bunched her breasts, forcing the tips together until they almost touched. He opened his mouth wide and took them both inside, sucking deep.
“Quinn,” she mewled. Her fingers plowed through his hair, the sharp tips of her nails digging into his scalp. He continued to suck on her nipples and a wet spot appeared on her bra. He lifted his mouth and wrenched down the cups, freeing her to his touch. He bent his head, raking his evening beard across the wet centers of her breasts. “Do you like that, baby?”
Her only reaction was a gasp, and he did it again, harder. He alternated between sucking her tits and scraping them with his beard until she trembled in his arms.
“Quinn?” Her voice was tremulous, asking for his guidance. That whiskey voice of hers had his bear whimpering.
Fuck, was she about to come with just the touch of his mouth? His mind reeled and his cock throbbed at the responsiveness of his mate. “Let it happen, sweetheart. Just let it happen.”
He increased the pace, feeling her trembling response. “Come, Paige,” he ordered, his voice deepened from the need racing through his own body.
Paige forgot everything. The self-consciousness she usually felt with a man, the anxiety that she wouldn’t please him, wouldn’t find pleasure for herself. She forgot everything except the heat of Quinn’s mouth on her breasts and the feel of his beard-roughened jaw on her nipples. Her eyes closed and her breathing quickened as her release rushed through her.
He continued to kiss and lick the nipples lightly, bringing her down from the high. “So, beautiful,” he murmured when she opened her eyes. He wrapped his arms around her and drew her close, forcing her legs further apart until he stood between them, his cock rubbing against her mound. This time their kiss was long and wet and thorough. So very thorough. They were both panting when it ended.
Quinn tugged at her shirt and she reached for his pants. He batted her hands away. “Can’t…touch…explode,” he mumbled against her mouth. He reached into his back pocket for the condoms he’d grabbed on his way out of his house. No, he hadn’t planned on his blind date ending in sex, but he was a red-blooded grizzly and was always prepared. Now he was so glad he’d had the foresight.
His zipper was halfway down when the phone in his front pocket vibrated. “Shit.” He knew before he even looked what the phone call meant. An end to his blind date. He wanted the date to last all night. Hell, he wanted it to last forever. He touched his forehead to hers. “I’m sorry, baby. I’ve got to take this.” He dragged the phone from his pocket, wincing as he bumped against his stiff cock. Fuck. And fuck again. He wanted to bury himself inside Paige and take her again and again. He hit accept on his phone and barked, “This had better be damn important.”
“How’s the date going, bro?” As he’d expected, it was Ryland.
“What do you want?” He wasn’t in the mood to share details of his date. Even if he had unexpectedly found his mate sitting at a bar sipping a glass of ice water. And he had followed her back to her home, hoping to bang the hell out of her. No, Quinn wasn’t about to share any of that with his brother anytime soon.
“Wasn’t it someone Deb worked with? What was her name, Peggy, Priscilla? No, Paige. I remember her, she has curves coming and going.”
“You know Paige?” His bear didn’t like the fact their mate had been around an unmated bear. Even if it was his brother.
“Yeah, bro. I do have a relationship with my sister. Sis said Paige was a warm and caring person. Was she warm and caring to you?”
If his brother had been in the same room, Quinn wasn’t certain he could have controlled his bear. His brother had gigged him about his dates before—why, he didn’t know, because all three brothers had a reputation of love ‘em and leave ‘em.
“What do you want, Ryland?” His question held a warning his brother was smart enough to understand. Paige was special.
“Ouch. Sorry, Quinn.”
“What happened?”
“One of the guards was attacked. Ryker found tracks near the southern wall.”
“Shit.” The guards he’d hired were human. “Is the man okay?”
“Yeah, just a big lump on the back of his head and some minor cuts and bruises. No stitches. I gave him the next couple of days off.”
It hadn’t been a slip of the tongue that Ryland had said tracks and not footprints. Quinn had suspected all along that shifters were responsible for the trouble they were having. This was the first concrete evidence they’d found. “Who?”
“Looks like jackals.”
Quinn threw back his head,
wanting to roar. Jackal shifters were mean sons of bitches. But, if they wanted to tangle with three pissed off bears, they’d soon have their wish. “I’ll be there as soon as I can. Tell Ryker to keep looking.”
“I’m on it. And Quinn, I’m sorry.”
“Yeah, me too.” Quinn let out an exasperated sigh and watched as Paige straightened her bra, covering her luscious mounds. His mouth watered remembering the taste. Before she could tug the two sides of her blouse back together, he tweaked the nipple of her right breast through her bra. She gasped and he did it again. His dick, which had lost some of its power, rose again. Lord help him, he wanted his mate. He continued to flick her nipple and watched as her eyes half-closed and her mouth opened, letting out her breath in short pants. She made no move to cover herself. He wanted to make her come again with just his touch.
“Um, Quinn. I don’t know what you’re doing buddy, but I can hear your woman breathing mighty hard.”
“Fuck,” Quinn cursed and ended the call. He stepped away from the temptation of Paige. He didn’t want to stop. He wanted to wallow in her sweet vanilla smell and savor the rich honey he knew waited for him between her rounded thighs.
Paige’s body was on fire again. Just a few quick strokes of Quinn’s fingertips and the raging inferno flared back to life. God, she was such a wanton. When he stepped away and ended his call, she quickly covered herself. From the conversation, she gathered his brothers needed him at the construction company. She couldn’t help the feeling of disappointment that raced through her. She wanted to spend the night with him, the whole freaking week. It was only a blind date, Paige, she reminded herself sharply. Remember, it was only a blind date.
“I’ve got to go.”
“I know,” she hesitated. Should she be the one to say goodbye first?
“I don’t know how long this will last—”
“I understand.” Again, no expression of expectation. The night had been fun. More than fun and that was enough.
Quinn looked down at her and frowned. “Is something wrong?”
“No, no.” She shook her head, “You’re a busy man.”
“Look, I don’t like leaving like this.” He ignored his phone when it buzzed again. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“All right,” she said, not believing for a minute that he would.
He caught her to him and his mouth descended ruthlessly. Surprised by his action, she didn’t have time to strengthen her resolve and melted beneath the onslaught of his savage kiss, the possession of his touch. She felt the hunger in the unrelenting pressure of his mouth, and little sparks of desire burned through her veins as he dragged her hard against his chest. Against her will, her hands ran up his arms, over his masculine shoulders. She tangled her fingers in the thick hair at the back of his neck. His mouth left hers, raining kisses over her cheek and down her neck where he whispered her name against the tender skin of her throat. She could have sworn she felt the sharp sting of his teeth where her neck joined her shoulder. Quickly, she forgot everything as he claimed her mouth again. His tongue plunged inside and she felt like she was being branded.
He broke off the kiss and cradled her face in his hands. “Now tell me what’s wrong,” his voice sounded tense now, concerned even.
“Nothing.”
Quinn knew Paige could see the golden fire of his gaze, and that she didn’t know what it meant. It meant he was losing control over his bear. His mate was on verge of rejecting them and the animal was going crazy. He, they, needed more time with her tonight. More time to cement the brand new bond. Damn it to hell and back. He had to go. He closed his eyes. If he continued to look at her he’d say to hell with everything and carry her to bed and not let her out for a week. Or more.
“My brothers are depending on me being there.” It was true Ryland and Ryker could deal with the threat, but with three bears they could cover more territory, faster. With shifters, finding a trail was a hell of a lot easier when the tracks were fresh. And there was a damn thunderstorm on the way. If they didn’t search tonight, they’d have to wait until the jackals struck again. Something he didn’t want to chance. He wanted this threat over and done with so he could concentrate of winning his mate.
When she didn’t respond, he muttered a curse. “I have a feeling if I leave you now you’re going to have some elaborate excuse made up to never see me again. I thought we had something special going on here.”
Paige didn’t answer. Her face turned a bright red and he knew she was remembering the pleasure of her release. He wanted to do that to her again.
“Look, we had a good time—”
“Don’t you dare finish that sentence. Yes, we had a good time. Are having a good time. And no, I’m not trying to ditch you now. Would I have made you come if I was? I’m not that damn selfless.” She didn’t answer, just stared at him with that innocent gaze. A gaze clearly filled with doubts about his attraction to her. He captured her hand and rubbed it against the front of his pants. Along the hard rigid of his cock. “Does that feel like I don’t want you?”
“No,” she whispered.
“I want to fuck you so badly I hurt.” He was suckling on the lobe of her ear, nuzzling her neck. “I want to feel your heat. I want to see how wet I can make you. Please don’t shut me out, say you’ll see me again.” She didn’t know it, but even if she said no, he wasn’t about to let her go without a fight. He’d woo her, court her. Oh, who the hell was he trying to kid? He’d sling her over his shoulder and take her back to his apartment. His bear roared in agreement.
Paige nibbled at her lower lip, refusing to meet his gaze when he stopped kissing her neck. She’d never been a very good liar. Yeah, she wanted to see him again. She just didn’t know if would be in her best interest. This man possessed the power to break her heart.
“Paige, baby.” His voice sounded so desperate she gave in.
“If you call me, I’ll go out with you.”
“Thank God,” he sighed dramatically, his face lighting up.
Paige smiled in delight. He’d pounced on that suggestion like a dog on a bone. Or a bear on honey. Would he want to taste her honey…
He pulled her with him as he crossed the small distance back to her front door. He looked as if he wanted to say something more. Instead, he gave her another hard, demanding kiss and said goodnight, ordering her to lock the door behind him. She flipped the deadbolt and sank against the doorway. Still dazed from the passion he’d aroused so quickly, she stayed there until she regained her breath and her heartbeat slowed to a reasonable rate. Her logical self said he wouldn’t call again. Her romantic self still held on to that small spark of hope. She decided to take what she could get, if it meant being in Quinn Blackwood’s bed, if only for a little while. They weren’t mates, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t be lovers.
CHAPTER THREE
An hour later, she’d changed into a pair of knit pajamas and was sitting on her couch, staring at the television with no idea what was on. Her mind was still tormented with thoughts of Quinn. Her cell phone rang and she grabbed it, her heart quickening, thinking it might be him.
Stop it right this instance, Paige Marie Matthews.
No matter the chemistry that might exist between them, he would leave her. He had a mate somewhere in the world. He could meet her today, tomorrow or two years from now. And no matter where they were in their relationship, he would leave Paige when that happened. He’d have to.
“So, how was your date?”
Despite the warnings she’d just given herself, Paige’s heart fell when her best friend answered her hello. She could picture the I told you so smile Deb was no doubt wearing and muted the television. She curled her legs beneath her hips. “How do you know it still isn’t going on?”
“Well, I don’t hear any heavy breathing. And my husband just got a call from Ryland about the break-in. He’s going to go help them.” Jason was a Kodiak bear shifter and Paige had met him on numerous occasions when he’d stopped by the
office. He was a big old softy who allowed his wife to do what she wanted, most of the time. She remembered the time or two Deb and her husband had actually had a fight—and the sexual heat that had shrouded her friend for days afterwards when they’d finally made up. Jason might let his mate get away with shit most of the time, but Paige had no doubt when push-came-to-shove, he was one very dominating male.
Paige settled back against the oversized rust colored cushions she’d bought on sale. They gave her well-worn black leather couch a much-needed splash of softness and color. Her apartment wasn’t bad. She thought it was warm and welcoming even if it had been furnished with items from the bargain bin and thrift store finds. She liked it and wondered if Quinn had. He probably hadn’t since it was so small. Sometimes she felt the walls closing in and knew he’d never be comfortable here. From what she knew of shifters, almost every kind longed for the great outdoors. She assumed a bear shifter, because of their size, would need wide open spaces even more.
“So. When are you going out again?”
Paige didn’t answer.
“My brother usually isn’t one to let the grass grow under his feet, Paige. What did the big lug do?” Deb’s voice was filled with annoyance.
Paige’s heart hurt even more. If he’d really wanted to see her again, he would have firmed up a date, not left with an I’ll call you tomorrow. Every woman knew that was guy code he really didn’t want to see you again. “We had a date, Deb. One date.”
“Didn’t he say anything? Explain about shifters?” Paige could almost hear the frown in the other woman’s voice.
“Well, yeah.” Paige blushed, thinking they hadn’t exactly talked about shifters, but she’d learned a hell of a whole lot about shifter anatomy. If tonight’s aborted encounter had been an example of what a one-night stand could be, she was kicking herself for not having one sooner.
