by Crissy Smith
He kissed her again, enjoying the taste of coffee and pure woman. It was heady, this need that she had awakened in him. He wanted to worship her from top to bottom.
Just as slowly as she had done to him, he learnt every inch of her. Using his hands and mouth, he teased her soft skin, causing goosebumps to pop up.
She lifted enough to help remove her white silk bra and pressed against his hand when he cupped her sex through her jeans. He could smell her arousal. She was wet, ready for him. She scratched her short nails down his arm as he snapped the button on her jeans and slowly unzipped her pants. He let her toe off her tennis shoes and he yanked her socks, jeans and panties down until she lay bared for his eyes to feast on.
He bent and placed soft kisses on her stomach before moving lower. At the first swipe of his tongue through her juices she cried out. When he ran his fingers between her folds, she gasped before he opened her and mouthed her plump pussy, causing her to buck and grab at his head. He pleasured her, drawing out her climax, until she dropped back on the couch spent.
“Not nearly done with you,” he warned her as he got his jeans open and pushed them down. He fought with his boots and socks before finally managing to get free of them. She watched with heavy eyes full of lust.
He climbed back to his knees and scooted closer to her.
“Mmm, yummy,” she said before crawling off the couch and pushing him back. He hit the floor still reaching for her.
“I knew you would be big and hard. Just perfect for me,” she admired, and stroked his cock. He lifted his hips into her touch. “I have to taste you.”
He cried out when she swallowed him down her throat. He tried not to buck, really he did, but she was using her tongue under the head of his penis and he couldn’t help it.
“Uh!” he called out as she took him deeper.
She slipped her hands beneath him and gently urged him to move.
As carefully as he could, he plunged in and out of her hot mouth. His control was close to snapping when she moved one hand to his balls and rolled them.
It was too much too soon. He couldn’t hold back any longer.
“I’m gonna,” he warned, thrusting faster even though he wanted to be buried inside her. But that would have to wait.
She hummed her permission and sucked him down. He came, white explosions behind his eyes, and she swallowed.
She licked him clean before sitting up and propping her chin on her hand. “Well, that wasn’t the way I thought this conversation would go.”
He laughed and gathered her to his chest to bask in the afterglow. He held her close, stroking her hair and praying they would be able to find a solution to the Pack problem. One afternoon and he knew that the woman in his arms was his. He would not let her go.
Chapter Six
Nikki couldn’t believe she had agreed to meet RJ at the old bar at the edge of town. She’d managed to avoid both her brothers after her morning romp with RJ but guilt ate at her.
She was supposed to be trying to find a solution to the challenge problem, not sexing up a member of the enemy camp.
But really, it wasn’t like the Cross brothers wanted a challenge, right? They had just as much at stake as anyone else.
She and RJ had at least agreed that a challenge was the last thing anyone wanted. She would have liked to discuss more in the privacy of his shop but an old military buddy had called and RJ had needed to answer the phone. Plus, by that time she had already felt guilty about throwing herself at him.
She pulled up in front of the old barn that had been converted into a bar and sighed. She knew her brothers wouldn’t understand but she just couldn’t stay away from RJ. Not only was she hoping for a solution to the Pack issue, but she just wanted to spend time with him.
As she’d lain in his arms and he’d told her he wanted to see her later that night, she hadn’t been able to meet his eyes. It wasn’t that she regretted what had happened between the two of them but she did have to look out for her family.
RJ had forced her chin up and when she’d lifted her head, she had been able to clearly see how important it was to him. She’d reluctantly agreed to come all the way out here. Away from anyone who would question the two of them being together. Give them time, he’d said, to figure out their next move.
As she’d expected, his Harley was parked close to the door. She parked her Jeep and stepped into the warm night air. Even at ten in the evening it had to still be in the eighties.
The music was low and the smoke thick when she opened the doors. Not too many people there at this time of night on a Monday. She ignored the four men playing pool and walked to the back booth where her date waited.
Not that this was a date. Or maybe it was. She didn’t have any idea. He smiled and slid out of the booth when she reached the table.
The kiss she received was just shy of erotic and had her toes curling.
“I’ll get you a drink. What’s your pleasure?”
She nearly said he was but swallowed it at the last minute. “Light beer on tap.”
He nodded and guided her to the seat he had just vacated.
She put her purse against the wall and watched as he walked to the bar. He wore tight black jeans and now that she knew what was under them, her mouth watered for another taste of him.
He cocked his hip against the bar as he ordered, surveying the room. When two beers were set in front of him, he pulled out his wallet and paid, before turning back to her.
His white shirt stretched tight against his chest and she had to curl her fingers up to stop herself from reaching out for him. He wasn’t the first good-looking man she’d ever run into or even dated, but there was something about RJ Cross that just sent shivers of need down her spine.
He plopped the drinks down and joined her in the booth. She shook when he tugged at the bottom of her black skirt.
“And just what do you have under this?” he whispered in her ear.
She sent him what she hoped was a sexy grin and reached for her beer.
“Ah, something to find out later,” he teased.
If his hand kept going up her thigh, it wouldn’t be much later. She took several large gulps to try to cool her heated body.
He chuckled and nipped at her ear. “Slow down, honey. I don’t want you too drunk for what I have in mind later.”
She almost choked on her drink.
He kissed the side of her neck before leaning back and reaching for his own beer.
Nikki took a deep breath in relief. She wasn’t too far from jumping him there in the bar and that wouldn’t be good.
“We need to talk about our brothers,” she told him. She was determined to find some sort of solution.
He raised his glass and tilted it to her. “You need to convince your brother not to challenge Dylan.”
“Yeah, why didn’t I think of that?” Nikki rolled her eyes. “It’s not that simple and you know that.”
He shook his head. “But it is. Dylan was picked by Cameron King. The Pack needs to respect his wishes.”
“The Pack is worried. They don’t know your brother, your family, or anyone else. They have the right to be concerned,” she shot back.
“If they believe in Cameron, why are they questioning his choice? I’ve met the man several times and I don’t see him turning his Pack over to someone who will lead them down the wrong road. Do you even know why they don’t accept Dylan?”
She shook her head.
“That’s bullshit then. He’s a good man, and he will be a great and fair leader.”
“He’s new and different.”
He snorted and took a long drink.
She didn’t want to fight with RJ but he had to see where they were coming from.
“So instead of using these last two weeks or even the few months we’ve been here getting to know the future Alpha or asking questions, they come up with a conspiracy to get rid of him.”
“It’s not a conspiracy,” she argued, even though it di
d kind of feel that way to her too.
“They had their time to talk with Cameron. To ask questions. Instead they wait until days before the ceremony before they start speaking about a challenge?”
Nikki sighed. She could see where RJ was coming from. But that didn’t help. “If Brandon doesn’t challenge then someone else will.”
With a jerk of his shoulder, RJ sat forward. “Fine, but it’s all bullshit.”
She laid a hand on his arm. “It’s nothing against you or your family.”
RJ snorted. “Yes, actually it is. Dylan is meant to be the Alpha. But dividing the Pack was never meant to happen. Even if Dylan wins the challenge, he will constantly be reminded he’s not from here. How is that fair?”
“He had to know coming here something like this might happen.”
“No,” he interrupted. “We were told we were wanted here. That it had already been decided. Dylan doesn’t deserve this.”
“What about his inner circle? Is he only using the wolves he brought with him?”
RJ shook his head. “I don’t know. I do know that Cameron and Dylan have discussed it, but that is something that we’d have to ask him. Why?”
“Just some rumours that Dylan is using this to bring his Pack up and leave the original Pack in the dust.”
“Dylan wouldn’t do that!”
Nikki pushed her drink away and sank back against the back of the booth. “This isn’t going to work. If we can’t agree, then we will never get the Pack to.”
When he put his arm around her shoulders, Nikki cuddled into him. The kiss to the top of her head gave her hope.
“I think the majority of the Pack, both new and old members, are okay with it,” he told her. “Just a handful of the people, really, have any concerns. Besides, we’re more involved than the others. It’s our brothers who will be hurt.”
She gave into temptation and ran her hand over his chest. “So what do we do?”
“I don’t know. Dylan is worried about it and it sounds like Brandon is too. Maybe they should just get together and have it out before the ceremony.”
Nikki thought about it. “That is a good idea, unless they kill each other before the ceremony.”
RJ’s thumb on her bottom lip surprised her. “You’re doing it again.”
She swiped at his thumb before sucking the digit into her mouth. She watched his nostrils flare.
“Fuck, baby,” he panted at her.
She grinned and let go.
“Can you get Brandon to our house tonight?” he asked, trying to get back to the point.
She hesitated before nodding. “Yeah, if I don’t tell him where we’re going, I think I might manage it. I’d have to bring Justin too. This is a family issue.”
“Okay, that will work. Ben will be there, so three of you and three of us. It’s fair and we can all sit down and hash this out. There is only one more day. We need to do it now.”
She glanced at her watch. It was half after ten. “Midnight?”
“Yeah, that will work,” he agreed. He dropped his hand back under the table. “We should probably get going.”
“Yeah,” she breathed as he nuzzled her neck while slipping his hand under her skirt.
She spread for him until he was teasing over the flimsy material she wore for panties. She was already wet for him. “RJ, please.”
“Let’s go!” He grabbed her hand and pulled her from the booth.
She laughed and stumbled as he continued to drag her through the bar. They hit the door and ran out into the night.
“Where are you parked?” he asked, lifting her off her feet.
She held onto his shoulders and wrapped her legs around his waist. “Who cares?”
He chuckled as he walked farther from the bar. “I see it.”
She was busy kissing and biting at his neck so she didn’t really care if he found the car or not. Just the taste of him was breathtaking. His salty skin called to her. Reminded her of how much she had enjoyed him earlier.
“Baby, if you keep that up we aren’t going to make it to the Jeep.”
“Uh-huh,” she murmured. Really, all that they needed to do was get to a flat surface. She wanted him inside her this time. She squeezed his waist and he groaned.
Happily, she went back to sucking at his neck.
She grunted when her back hit the side of her Jeep.
“You drive me crazy,” he told her and slammed his mouth down on hers.
She slid lower, rubbing against his hard body. “Want you…please…need you,” she managed when they broke away to breathe air in.
“Christ.” He glanced around the empty parking lot before opening the passenger door and pushing her inside.
She giggled as she fell back into the seat.
“Gonna be quick,” he warned, leaning over her and pushing her shirt up.
“Don’t care,” she promised, already starting to unsnap his jeans.
They managed to move clothes out of the way enough so he was pressed up against her.
“Look at me,” he demanded, just inches from taking her, his cock hard and pulsing at the lips of her pussy.
She lifted her head. His eyes held the power of his passion and she shivered. “RJ, now!”
He slammed inside, going deep with the first thrust. Her breath caught and she clawed at his back. Perfect, what she needed.
“Oh fuck, you feel good,” he told her as he started to pound into her.
She tightened around him and lifted her hips to meet each wild, passionate plunge. This was what she craved, what she longed for on those cold lonely nights. Someone to take her. Someone to swamp out all of her feelings and just demand a response.
“Yes! Yes!” she cried out as he rode her hard. She ran her hands over every inch she could touch, his head, his shoulders, chest, and stomach. The ink on him rose and shimmered as they moved in sequence.
“Mine, all mine.” He spoke each time he buried himself back inside.
She heard him talking but couldn’t concentrate on the words. The feel of him inside her, the sight of the pleasure on his face, and the fierceness in his eyes was mesmerising. The pressure built until she couldn’t stand it.
“RJ, please!”
He grabbed her face and their eyes locked. “Mine,” he growled.
His eyes were almost wolflike and his teeth became elongated. She knew the wolf was close to the surface. Her own animal was clawing to get out. To be claimed.
“Yes,” she told him. There was no doubt she belonged to him one hundred per cent.
He snarled, throwing his head back, slammed inside.
“Yes!” she cried again as she exploded. Her orgasm tore through her body. She clutched at him, pulled, tried to anchor herself.
He followed her over the edge, spilling his seed inside her, marking her with his scent.
Long minutes went by as they both tried to get their control back.
He planted both hands on either side of her head. He waited until their gazes locked. “You know what this means?” he asked quietly.
“Yeah…” She cleared her throat. “Yes.”
“I will mate you, Nikki Stratton. And soon.”
She had no doubt and that scared the crap out of her.
Chapter Seven
Freshly showered, nervous, and almost desperate, Nikki drove down the empty roads with Brandon beside her and Justin in the back seat.
She had expected more questions but the men must have seen something in her face that convinced them that when she said they needed to come with her, they did.
She needed to tell them about her and RJ. She should prepare them. Her fear was that her emotions were too all over the place to hide once she was in the same room with the man.
But every time she opened her mouth, she couldn’t get the words out.
“Nik,” Brandon called softly. “What is going on?”
She had to give him credit that he had remained quiet for so long. In only a few more minutes, they wo
uld pull up to the house RJ and his brothers shared.
“I need you to trust me, Brandon. To know that I love you more than anything.”
He covered her hand that was on the wheel. She released her grip and held onto him. “You’re scaring me,” he said, kissing her hand.
“Brandon, please trust me.” She made the turn to the Cross house and felt him tense next to her.
“What are you doing? Nikki, why are we here?”
She shook her head and continued to drive.
“Stop the car,” he ordered.
It took all her willpower to remove her hand from his hold and put it back on the wheel to continue towards the house.
“Nicole Stratton, pull this car over!”
She whimpered at the tone, her wolf wanting her to obey the dominant with her.
“Please, Brandon.” She pressed her foot down on the gas pedal, moving them quicker before she lost her nerve. The house came into sight, with RJ standing on the porch.
She pulled up in front of him and took a deep breath. “Just come inside. Talk to Dylan, work this out.”
Brandon growled long and low.
“Oh shit!” Justin barked a laugh from the back seat. “This is actually a good idea.”
Brandon snarled at him and wrapped his hand around Nikki’s upper arm. “What were you thinking?”
She shook, his fury hard for her to handle, but she had to try.
“Get us out of here,” he demanded, shaking her a little. He was still in control, making sure he didn’t hurt her, but she still wanted to roll over for him.
“Too late,” Justin piped up from the back seat. “Look.”
They glanced towards the porch where two other men had joined RJ.
“Just talk to him,” she begged her brother.
“Come on, man.” Justin gripped Brandon’s shoulder. “It’s a good idea.”
Brandon moved quickly, throwing his door open then slamming it closed. Nikki and Justin scrambled to catch up. They met at the front of her Jeep.
Nikki looked over the two men she hadn’t seen before, but her eyes were drawn to her lover. His gaze flickered to her but settled on Brandon, his body full of tension. No one moved for several moments.
