by Talya Bosco
“No. Don't worry about it. I can order dinner from my room. He can eat alone.”
“Please, don't do that. Perhaps you would be willing to take a table on the balcony? It's quiet out there and, despite the weather report, absolutely beautiful.”
Larissa thought about it for a moment before nodding. “Yes, thank you. Actually that sounds perfect.”
The waiter escorted her out to an empty balcony and gave her the choice of where to sit. She chose a seat in the shadows near the railing, where she could see the grounds and the nearly full moon.
The night was cool and crisp with a slight tang to the air, reminding her of an autumn night despite it being springtime. It made her almost wish for a shawl, but she was unwilling to move from her spot, finding it soothing and worth the slight chill.
“How can it be that you are sitting out here alone in the dark?”
The voice ran down her spine, his breath brushing across the back of her neck. Her nipples perked up in response. His lips were inches from her ear, and the heat of his body warmed hers thoroughly.
The voice was deeper, richer than that of her stranger from earlier in the day, but it was still familiar. Her body continued to heat as she forced herself to respond.
“Better to be alone than with distasteful company.” She couldn't bring herself to turn her head, to look at the man who had her body reacting with just a few words. Instead, she inhaled his scent. Masculine. That's all she could think of. Sandalwood, forests, wildness. He smelled absolutely wild and untamed. And absolutely delectable.
Turn around.
But her body wouldn't listen. The tingle of excitement, of not knowing, was stronger than the need to find out who was behind her turning her bones to mush and her nipples to pebbles.
“Tragic that such a beauty should be saddled with an unsatisfactory dinner companion. Perhaps I might act as a substitute?”
“I don't know. Would it be worth my while?” A thrill ran through her body as she realized what she was doing. She didn't normally flirt with people she knew, and here she was flirting with a complete stranger. One she hadn't even seen yet.
“I will strive to make the rest of your evening extremely enjoyable.” His response turned her on more than those simple words had any right to. He had done nothing but whisper in her ear, and already her panties were soaked with desire. She gave a slow nod.
She felt him straighten and move into her line of sight. Once she saw who it was, she sucked in a breath in amazement. Adonis from yesterday. The man who had whispered “later” laden with such sexual energy that she'd practically been ready to chase after him.
“My name is Jared Morrison,” he said as he sat down. He didn't extend a hand, but that was okay with Larissa; she didn't think she'd be able to shake it, given the condition she was in. If they actually touched, she might just jump over the table and ask him to spend the night fucking her brains out.
He was even more gorgeous than she remembered. He wore a dark suit that was tailored to his body and a white shirt that brought out the dark tone of his skin. In the dim light she couldn't see the color of his eyes, but she thought she remembered them as a deep brown and capable of staring straight through her.
“Larissa Myles.”
“Well, Ms. Myles, would you care to share why your evening has been so unsatisfactory up until now?”
Larissa smiled. She couldn't help it. She wasn't sure if this man was normally this formal or if he was trying to be very good for her, but either way she found it absolutely irresistible. “No, not really. Let's just say that not everyone knows proper manners.”
“Did someone insult you?” His face darkened.
“Let's just say my date was less than polite.”
“Inexcusable.”
“I agree. Which is why I asked him to leave.”
“And I see he did.”
Larissa shook her head. “Actually, no. I left. I figured he wasn't worth the effort of convincing him to forgo the date, so I left the table. Andy, the waiter, gave me this table out here. One that I prefer, to be honest.”
“Well, I have to say I'm pleased. It will make our time together much more private.”
“And will we need privacy to eat dinner?”
Despite the dim light, Larissa would have sworn she saw his eyes glitter with some unknown emotion.
“I guess that depends how much we enjoy ourselves.”
Chapter Three
Jared watched as Larissa pressed the number to her floor and stepped back, right into his arms. His hands went around her waist and pulled her into him. He couldn't resist; he buried his nose into her hair and inhaled her scent.
Devon was right. She was the one. There was no doubt about it in his mind, or in the way his body reacted to her. From the top of her head to the tips of her toes, she was the one meant for them.
Her hair wasn't ordinary brown. No, it was different shades mixed with some reds and even some blondes, giving her a unique appearance that he found endearing. Curls bounced all over the place, defying current trends in their wildness. All he could think of was what they would look like spread across his chest after a night of hard sex.
She was short. There was at least a foot difference, even with her heels, but it didn't matter to him. If he had to hunch for the rest of his life, then he was perfectly willing to.
And the only word to describe her body was voluptuous. He'd never understand society's obsession with stick-thin women. He wanted a woman with curves, one who looked and felt like a woman and not an anorexic boy.
In short, she was perfect for him. He didn't know how his mother had figured it out, but Larissa was his mate.
Now he had to convince her of that.
He knew he turned her on, that something in her responded to him. She wouldn't be taking him up to her room if she weren't affected by him.
That was another bit of research his dear old mum did on her. Although she wasn't above a bit of fun, Larissa wasn't the kind of woman to have sex with just anyone. She was very particular.
This suited his mother just fine. Denise Morrison wanted a strong, independent woman for him and Devon. Just not one who was indiscriminate in her behavior. She was very particular about the kind of woman she placed in front of her son. And the pack.
Jared suppressed a groan. Just from their dinner conversation, he already knew enough about Larissa to know she was going to be pissed when she found out what was going on behind her back. His pack had no right to do what they were doing to her.
But if he told her, he would lose her. And that was the last thing in the world he wanted.
“Um, Jared?”
Her voice made his body go liquid, as he wanted to wrap himself around her and never let go.
“Jared, you're hurting me.”
“Damn!” He immediately loosened his hold. He hadn't even realized how tightly he was holding on to her while he was thinking. “Larissa, I'm sorry. I didn't mean—”
“If you don't want to do this, I understand. Really, if you were just trying to make me feel—”
He turned her around to face him, breaking her words off in midsentence. “I want this more than you know. I want nothing more than to bury myself in your body and never leave. I want to make love to you until you pass out from pleasure and exhaustion, and I want to make this a night you will never forget.”
He pulled her tight against his erection. It hadn't gone down despite the trail his thoughts had taken. He didn't expect it ever to go down in her presence.
“If my words won't convince you, maybe this will. This isn't for any other woman. This is for you and only you.” He grabbed her hand and directed it between them. “I have thought of little else besides you since the other day.”
The elevator slid to a stop and the doors opened, prompting Jared to stop and guide Larissa out. He kept his hand on her back as she led the way to her suite and opened the door. Her body trembled and he could only hope it was in the same anticipation he
felt.
As soon as they were inside, he pushed the door closed and backed her against the nearest wall. Their bodies pressed together from her chest to her groin, and he was sure she could once again feel his excited state.
“From the moment I saw you, I knew there was something about you. Something in you called to me, and it took almost everything I had within me to leave you there at the entrance to the dining room.”
“Things like that don't happen in real life, Jared. I'm not some sexy femme fatale that men fall in instant lust over.” Her voice was determined but sad, and it broke his heart just a little to hear that tone.
“I don't know about other men, Larissa, but I promise you it's true. I want you. No one else. Not the woman who practically threw herself at me downstairs. I want you.”
“But you noticed her.” She looked down, her voice too soft. He reached down and cupped her chin to pull her gaze back up to his.
“Hell yes, I noticed her. I noticed how different she was from you. How much classier you are, how much nicer you were to the waitstaff, and how much sexier you are in your dress that promises more than it delivers. A dress that makes me want to peel it off of you inch by inch to see what treasures it hides.”
She shook her head. The confident woman from earlier in the night was gone completely, and in her place was a shy one, unsure of her beauty and ability to attract. His heart melted even more as she showed him her vulnerability. Something he was sure she didn't show many people very often.
He decided the time for words was over. It was time for action. And he did what he'd wanted to do since the moment he saw her. He kissed her.
The strawberry shortcake she'd had for dessert flavored her soft, sweet lips. He licked at her, savoring the sugar of the fruit and her taste beneath.
Her lips parted on a sigh, and he took that opportunity to delve in with his tongue and truly taste her.
Divine.
That's all he could think as he inhaled her scent, experienced her taste, and felt her body against his. He was in heaven.
She responded eagerly to his kisses, meeting his tongue thrust for thrust, tasting him as he tasted her. Groans from both filled the hallway as his hands grasped her shoulders and held her tight against the wall.
He knew he needed to move her to the bedroom. To make love to her properly, but he was too excited, too driven. And he needed to take that hurt look out of her eyes and show her how much he wanted her.
He pulled away from her lips and trailed kisses down her jaw to the left side of her neck, where he nipped at her gently. Her gasp told him she liked it, so he did it again. He was beginning to like this dress even more as he flicked his tongue out to taste her bare skin.
He trailed his left hand down her right arm to stroke her skin beneath the silk of the dress while his other hand found hers. Their fingers linked together easily.
Slowly he moved their entwined hands behind her, until her hand was locked between her back and the wall. Wanting more control, he grasped her other hand and placed it in the same position. He pushed against her body, trapping her in place.
“Don't move.” His voice was raspy with desire, eager for her to obey.
He saw rebellion flare in her eyes before she nodded sharply.
Returning to her neck, he kissed and nipped his way down to her shoulder and on to her collarbone, feeling her shiver against his body with each lick and bite. He ran his tongue over the curve of her breast, burying his face in her cleavage as he inhaled her scent once again.
Jasmine. She smelled of her own unique scent mixed with a light touch of jasmine, and it sent his need into overdrive. He pulled at the material covering her partially bared breast. It wouldn't budge. A frustrated growl rumbled from his throat.
“The clasp.” Her words were more an exhalation of air than anything else.
He had to tamp his desire down enough to understand her words. He closed his eyes, afraid she would see the change in them, and concentrated on what she said.
“The clasp. It's on my shoulder. The material hooks under the clasp.”
He opened his eyes and zeroed in on the offensive clasp on her right shoulder. His fingers moved faster than even he was used to as he eagerly undid the hooks. He stepped back to watch the material slide down her body and reveal her to his gaze.
All hopes of seeing her in her naked glory were dashed, only to be replaced by a surge of pleasure at seeing her in matching green lace bra and undies.
The bra was mostly lace and covered very little of her skin. It pushed her full breasts up, letting them spill over the top.
“Okay, I've changed my mind. I don't like your dress. It hid way too much of your body from view.”
Larissa moved her hands from her waist and brought them forward, hiding her body from his view. He growled, and she jumped, quickly putting her hands back where they were.
“Don't even think of covering up. I want to look, and I am going to look.”
He felt an instant of guilt, as this time he saw what looked like fear run through her eyes and then quickly darken to something different. Excitement. Desire. Her chest rose and fell with her gasps, and her white skin flushed a gorgeous light pink.
She liked him taking charge. It was something he was going to have to experiment with later. But not now.
He reached out to one of her breasts and ran his thumb over the point where the lace ended and her skin began. “So soft. Beautiful.”
He debated what to do next for all of a millisecond, but he knew what he wanted. When he cupped her breast, it filled even his large hand, and his cock jumped at the thought of sliding between the two of them.
Eventually. Soon.
Instead, he dropped to his knees and buried his head against her waist.
She was such a petite, short little thing, and he wanted to fold her in his arms and protect her for the rest of her life. Oh, she wasn't tiny, but he liked that about her. He liked a woman he could grab hold of and not worry that he was going to break her. Even her height, or lack of, brought out his protective instincts in a way he'd never experienced before.
He pulled her against him and held her tight for a moment. He never wanted to let her go. Fear that he wouldn't be able to share her when the time came ran through him, making him hold her even tighter.
“Jared? Are you okay?” Larissa wrapped her hands in his hair and pulled at his head.
He took a deep breath and looked up at her. “I know you'll find this hard to accept, probably think it's just a line, but I feel as though I am the luckiest man in the world right now. You honor me with your trust.”
Confusion ran through her eyes, and he realized he was going to ruin the moment if he wasn't careful. Not only wasn't she ready for what he wanted to tell her, she wouldn't believe it.
“You are an exquisite woman, Larissa.”
“You are insane.” But the confusion was replaced with amusement.
He bent his head to her once again and inhaled her scent. He could feel her pulse and hear the rapid beat of her heart. Her arousal was obvious to his enhanced senses, driving him even closer to the edge. He couldn't wait to devour her.
He buried his face into her pussy and blew. Her shiver and moan told him she liked what he was doing. Wrapping his hands around her ass, he pressed her closer to him and sucked at her cloth-covered skin.
When her hands were tight enough to rip the hair from his skull, he pulled back and tugged at her undies, pulling them down her legs.
Tight brown curls, sprinkled with her moisture, lay there for his pleasure. And he couldn't wait any longer.
He reached a hand to separate her lips and gave her one long lick.
Larissa's legs nearly gave out when Jared licked her. If he hadn't been practically pinning her against the wall, she would have fallen. Shivers ran up and down her body as he tasted her, and all she could think was, More!
He licked slowly and then fast, a finger stroking her, teasing her entry until finally he in
serted it into her pussy. Her body hugged his finger, sucking it in as though desperate for the penetration. He wiggled his finger against her walls while he ate at her as though he was starving and she was his only sustenance.
Every lick and suck drove her excitement to a higher pitch, her body tightening with each movement. When he nipped at her clit with his teeth, she couldn't help the shout that escaped from her lips. She thrust herself at him, her hands tightening in his hair and pulling him against her harder.
Her knees grew weak as she felt her orgasm begin to grow. Tingles in the back of her head running down her shoulders and arms warned her to lock her knees.
She exploded in pleasure. She couldn't have held it back if she tried, and she didn't want to try. She came on his finger and his face as he nibbled, licked, and thrust inside her.
When he inserted two more fingers and concentrated his mouth on her clit, she lost it again, bucking against him and moaning her pleasure.
“Oh my God!” she yelled, beyond any ability to be more coherent than that. Her head felt like it was cracking open and her body falling into a million pieces. She pushed at his head, trying to move him off her to give herself a break. She couldn't breathe, never mind think.
When he pulled away, he looked up at her with such a gaze of satisfaction, she felt herself go weak with pleasure.
Jared stood up and scooped her into his arms to bring her to the bedroom. Before she could protest, they were standing beside the bed and he was slowly removing her bra. He once again lifted her, this time to lay her on the already turned-down sheets before taking a step back and looking at her.
Larissa had to fight her initial reaction to cover herself as his gaze ran over her. At the look in his eyes, however, she chose not to move. He really did find her sexy. His gaze didn't fly over certain parts of her body; it lingered everywhere, as though he found it all attractive.
The flush of pleasure that ran through her and into her heart beat out any feeling she'd ever gotten from being with a man before. This one truly wanted her for her and appreciated all she was.
