The Loneliest Alpha (The MacKellen Alphas)

by T. A. Grey

  His hooded eyes practically glowed with hunger. But he stood her up and stepped back. “It’s too soon.”

  “For what?”

  “For sex.”

  “Why?” she asked, getting pissed. She was serious when she’d said she was still aching and wet. She needed a certain something from him to get rid of that and probably a few rounds of it.

  He sighed and rubbed a hand through his hair. “Sit down.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “No.”

  So did his. “Sit. Down.”

  She sat, pouting and hating that she was pouting.

  He moved around the kitchen putting away the leftover food and rinsing off their plates in the sink. As he did this, she felt silly sitting there with her pants down so she pulled them up.

  “You must have balls of steel.”

  He grabbed the dessert out of the fridge, grinning that stupid MacKellen smirk. “How’s that?”

  “I felt that hard-on. There’s no way you don’t have balls as blue as ice about now.”

  He shrugged. “Maybe, but I’m not wasting this dessert you made just because I wanna get off.”

  “Maybe I’d like to help you get off,” she said quietly.

  His eyes met hers then something that could only be a blush colored his face. Shaking his head, he set down dessert and said, “Dessert first.”

  That brought a smile to her face. ‘First’ implied there’d be a ‘second’ and ‘second’ would involve his incredibly talented hands and mouth touching her, so she quickly plated out the sweet biscuits, strawberries, and cream.

  Their plates looked like a mess and his smirk told her he noticed her rush. Though he also didn’t say anything about it either so they both ate, she twice as fast as him.

  And he had seconds so she got to watch him eat, her impatience rising like a tidal wave. He was a hearty eater, taking big bites that would take her two separate mouthfuls to get down. But he ate with calm and care like a man who appreciated his meals.

  As soon as the last strawberry was off his plate, she snatched it from him and rinsed it off.

  She turned around knowing her eyes were as wild as she felt. There was no helping how she felt now. He’d let the animal out of the cage.

  “Upstairs now. I expect your pants to be off.”

  Gavin stood. He did a good job of trying to control his surprise, but she sensed she still shocked him. He strode to her and cupped her cheek. “You sure about that?”

  She nodded quickly.

  His smiling lips caught hers in a sweeping, tongue-meshing kiss that left her panting when he broke away. She tasted herself in his kiss and her body strained for more.

  He strode away and her eyes narrowed on his retreating back. Was that a strut to his stride she saw? Her lips twitched. Rushing around the kitchen, she put the rest of dessert away before racing upstairs to Gavin’s bedroom.

  Only she didn’t find him on the bed sprawled out in naked abandon as she’d wantonly envisioned.

  Instead, she found him hunched over the toilet making unmistakable retching sounds.

  Darn it all to hell. She’d given Gavin food poisoning.

  CHAPTER 16

  Alicia’s stomach clenched at the raw sounds. Tiptoeing to the open bathroom door, she peered inside. Gavin was bent low over the toilet bowl, one arm slung over it, sweat forming over his scarred forehead.

  Watering eyes looked up at her, pinched in agony. “Get outta here. Something’s wrong.”

  His back muscles jerked, twitching with spasms and then his head dipped back into the bowl—more retching.

  “I’m so sorry. Let me help.”

  Grabbing a cup, she poured some cold water in it in case he wanted to clean his mouth. Still the sounds of straining filled the bathroom making her flinch.

  “Really, I’m so sorry. I don’t think I’ve ever gotten anyone sick with my cooking before. But…”

  Suddenly her stomach clenched and her throat flexed. Something very bad tried to come up. Slapping her hand over her mouth, she ran from the room to her own bathroom.

  The stomach cramps hit her in waves of twisting agony. It wouldn’t stop. Everything she ate came back up in hot bursts and when that was done she somehow ended up vomiting even more.

  Afterward, she lay on the bathroom floor with a twitching stomach and cold sweat making her skin clammy.

  “Uggggh,” she groaned.

  Lumbering steps came into view as Gavin leaned heavily onto the doorframe. “Food poisoning.”

  She shook her head in denial. “No way. Nothing I used was bad. It couldn’t have been. I made the simplest dinner and dessert ever.”

  He nodded to the toilet. “You done?”

  “Yes.” God, she didn’t ever want to see a toilet again.

  He helped her up and that was good because she wasn’t sure she could move on her own. Only through his strength was she able to walk. He guided her out of the bedroom and back toward his room.

  She started shaking her head as the words came out. “No way. No playtime tonight. Not after that.”

  Something close to a laugh came out of him. He shook his head. “No, sweetheart, I just want you close. Something smells funny here.”

  “Yeah, my breath probably.”

  Another garbled laugh. “Nah, it’s not that. I mean, something’s wrong. What was in that food?”

  She started listing off ingredients. “Potatoes, butter, milk, strawberries, cream, sugar, steak---”

  “Stop there,” he said. He hoisted her onto his bed then stepped back, pacing with his head lowered and cocked to the side.

  “What is it? I’m telling you, milk, butter and cream. I sort of tried it all before I used it, as any good cook does, mind you, not because it tastes good. And it was all good.”

  Hard eyes landed on hers. “The steak.” A flash of pain ripped across his face.

  “What about it? I thought it tasted good.”

  His mouth opened, but before he could say a word, he flew from the room. The bathroom door slammed closed and a moment later she could hear his pain.

  She winced and yelled another apology. All she got in return was a grumble.

  The toilet flushed and the sink turned on and off before he came back. He braced himself against the wall with one arm slung across his stomach, the other across his forehead.

  “Fuckin’ hell.”

  “Sorry to push, but what were you saying about the steak?”

  He shook his head as if to clear it. Once again, his eyes turned hard. “I bought it at the butcher.”

  “And that’s bad or something?”

  “Marcus Graham’s brother, Harry, works there.”

  “You don’t really think he had anything to do with this, do you?” He gave her a look. “I mean, what could he have done, put poison in it?”

  Her stomach chose that moment to remind her she’d been poisoned too. She flew off the bed and emptied more of her stomach’s contents as he politely waited for her to finish until he spoke. Such a nice man, she thought.

  “Yeah, he could have.”

  “Why would he want to do that? I thought Marcus was the one that hated you.”

  “He does, but the one thing that stays consistent in the Graham family is their loyalty. They’d do anything for each other.”

  She rinsed out her mouth and turned to face him. “What would they get out of this? Is it all some sick joke just to make us miserable?”

  Silence grew as he considered it. Then, slowly, he said, “To get rid of you.”

  Her eyes flew wide. “Me? Why me? I’m no one.”

  Warm eyes settled on her. “You’re everything.”

  A funny feeling steeled near her heart making her fidget. “No, that can’t be. I mean…what?”

  His lips quirked into a smirk. “Come on, let’s get into bed.”

  He grabbed her hand and started pulling her to the bed. She dug her feet in as fear crept in. “You mean together?”

  He eyed her as if she was
crazy. “How else?”

  “But…”

  His eyebrow cocked as if to say but what?

  She bit her lip, unable to express it aloud. Sure, she’d been ready to jump into bed with him and share some skin privileges, but that had been when the heat of the moment took hold of her. Now she was vulnerable. To go into that bed right now would mean to go into it in a non-sexual function. To do it because they wanted to be close together tonight. Because she wanted to be there for him and to have him there for her. Almost like they were lovers in a relationship, two people who cared about each other.

  He must have seen her hesitance because the look in his eyes gentled, cracking some wall inside her. A wall that had been erected for a steely purpose—to keep those out who might hurt her. And he shattered it with those warm eyes like taking a hammer to an ice cube.

  There was no going back if she did this. This was bigger than sex or some orgasm in a kitchen. This was her heart and her emotions on the line. The question was: could she trust Gavin MacKellen with them?

  She saw the patience and understanding in his scarred face and in the softness of his eyes and had her answer. She’d had her answer when he told her he’d sent those other girls home, and when he’d come for her the night of the accident, and when he’d forgiven her for searching his mystery box.

  She’d had her answer all along.

  So she stood up on her toes and kissed his cheek and went to sleep with Gavin MacKellen.

  CHAPTER 17

  Gavin awoke and could have died a very happy man in that moment. He was in his bed with the woman he wanted to mate with asleep in his arms. She had her arm thrown over his chest and one leg tangled around his.

  He closed his eyes and thought back to when the last time was he had a woman sleeping his bed. Had to be Jane. Damn, how long ago was that? Six years? Had it really been that long since he’d found a woman he wanted to be with? Must be.

  He hated to have to move, but after being sick as he was last night, he had to get into the shower, pronto. Slowly disengaging himself, he tucked the covers around her, pressing a kiss to her temple. Her beauty was incredible. Truly, she was a stunning woman, but her strength and humor and kindness made her almost unreal.

  Stepping into the shower, he grabbed his toothbrush and got to work erasing all traces of last night’s sickness. The water heated up creating a comforting billow of steam around him. The hot liquid crept over his body, loosening his muscles and wiping away the clammy sweat from last night.

  He was spitting out the last of the toothpaste in his mouth when he heard the shower curtain pull open behind him. Like they did every time he was around her—his primitive urges sprung to life.

  “Alicia.” Guttural words spoken from a dry throat.

  She was naked. Completely. Holy fuck—his gaze fell down over bare, beautiful breasts that made his mouth water and cock lunge to a stand, and even lower over soft belly and fuck. Really naked. Completely naked. The dark thatch of curly short hairs that framed the juicy piece of her made his balls pull tight.

  “Sweetheart,” he choked, chest pumping to suck in air.

  A flush covered her cheeks but there was a wicked glint in her eyes. He had the distinct realization he was screwed.

  “Good morning, Gavin.” She climbed into the shower—every naked, golden-skinned inch of her.

  He couldn’t stop from reaching for her. It was an automatic response just like plants reached toward sunlight for energy. He had to slip his hands across the browned skin, feel the slippery wetness of it. A growl vibrated from deep in his chest as he slipped his fingers across her hips. Wet, warm and softer than his mind had imagined it to be.

  “Do you mind passing that,” she pointed to something behind him.

  Like an idiot, it took him several extra moments to comprehend that she wanted him to look at something behind him. Fuck that, his gut growled; everything he ever wanted to see stood right before him like a water nymph.

  “The toothbrush, please.” She smiled a damned knowing smile.

  With a growl, he handed it to her. She got busy on her teeth, all the while not touching him. Not even looking at the massive erection he sported. If biggest cock-stand was an Olympic sport, he’d win gold.

  How could she be so relaxed, even going so far as to hum softly as she swished that toothbrush up and down and round in her sweet little mouth. She looked so nonchalant with one arm slung underneath her breasts and other propped on top of it as she brushed. Even one hip was cocked out to the side.

  Did she have any idea what she was toying with? After tasting her for the first time last night and feeling her slick channel squeezing his finger, he’d nearly been undone. It had taken all of his strength not to join her, not to rip open his jeans like he’d wanted to and slam inside, pounding away at her like a rutting animal.

  She deserved better than that though. She didn’t deserve having their first time—because there would be a first time soon—drilled into her as he bent her over the kitchen table. That just wasn’t how a man took his would-be mate for the first time.

  He wanted to do it right. With the lights off so she wouldn’t have to look into his face and a soft mattress beneath her. God, was his shitty mattress even good enough? He made a mental note to buy a new one ASAP.

  A low rumbly noise sounded and he leaned back as his beautiful woman squeezed past him to rinse out her mouth. Then, holy hell, she took his breath away.

  Women really did that?

  He’d seen it in movies and commercials before but something about it had always felt staged. This did not, however and it made him hard as stone. She tilted her head into the water as her eyes slowly closed and the showerhead drenched her in steaming hot water.

  Her lean back arched into it, neck elongating, hair turning slick and wet to hang down her back as she ran her fingers through it.

  He must have made a sound because her eyes fluttered open. Then it was like she finally realized he’d been in the shower with her this whole time. A small, sweet smile curled over her lips and her sleepy eyes blinked at him.

  “Good morning, honey.”

  Honey? He was doomed, he realized with stunning clarity. This woman had him clutched by the heart and the balls. He’d do anything for her, anything, so long as she stayed here and loved him.

  A strange twisting sensation stirred around his heart. If she stayed here and loved him…yeah. He wanted that. So fucking bad it hurt to think of her leaving. Did that mean what he suspected it meant—ah yeah, it did. His breath became charged as raw emotion hit him.

  He knew deep in his gut before that he’d wanted her here with him, that she’d make him happy, that he could possibly make her happy, and that together they’d be a great match for the alpha and queen of the pack. With her strength, kindness, and creativity she’d get along perfectly with the women.

  But this was more. This was something different and unexpected. He didn’t just want her here because they fit together like two puzzle pieces. No, he wanted her here with him because he loved her. Loved her with so much desire it hurt. Made his heart ache with a heavy feeling.

  “Sweetheart,” he said, unable to stand it anymore.

  Her sleepy eyes smiled at him as he took her into his arms, and her soft lips opened to his as he claimed her mouth, not as an alpha or as a lykaen, but as a man who loved his woman.

  The kiss was deep and slow and heartracing. Everything it should have been and more.

  It didn’t end so much as gradually fade like the last chord of a beautiful song.

  She rocked in his arms unsteadily. “Wow. Never been kissed quite like that before.”

  “Me neither.” Little did she know just how much he meant his words.

  With a slow smile she opened her eyes. Heat smoldered there like the beginning sparks of fire. Her eyes dropped and muscles in his pectorals and abdomen squeezed tight at her perusal. Then her hands flattened over his pecks, wreaking havoc with his senses.

  “Care
ful, sweetheart.”

  “Or what?”

  Did she have no idea what she was playing at? “I’m barely reining it in here.”

  “I like the sound of that.”

  God damn, why did she have to be so cute and playful in the morning? Why couldn’t she be grumpy and mean? At least then he wouldn’t have wood—maybe.

  “You know what I think when I see you here all wet and naked?” she asked.

  He groaned as she played with his nipples. “What?”

  A wet mouth surrounded his nipple. “That I want to eat you all up.” She bit down.

  “Fuck!” he growled.

  Something let loose inside him.

  Wrapping his hand around her wet hair, he pulled her back so his mouth could crash into hers. White-hot need exploded between them in a frenzy. Hands slipped across wet skin, squeezing and groping. Mouths fought against each other in a rough battle of wills.

  He cupped two perfectly soft cheeks of her ass and the sound she made had him second-guessing his plan to wait until the lights were out and he bought a new mattress. What an idiot he was. Because right here and now with her back pressed up against the shower wall sounded fucking perfect.

  Her soft moans and cries were like decadent little morsels, the garnish on top of the sundae. She sounded so soft and needy, it made him want to beat his chest and howl.

  But then she threw in the game changer. Damn, but he hadn’t been ready. Not one bit.

  She tore her mouth away to sink her teeth into his neck as her hands found his cock and balls.

  “Ah, fuck, sweetheart.” His garbled words rattled around in his chest like loose screws.

  Another soft moan as she licked the bite wound. Then she bit down again, harder, making him groan and clutch her to him, slipping his fingers between her legs to play.

  Those damned hands. Her wicked, naughty hands claimed him, unmanned him. She fisted his goods, one stroking, the other grasping as she worked him.

  The pleasure was mounting too fast to be safe. He had to back off.

  He threw his head back with a curse. Damn, but it felt so good to have someone else’s hands on him, working his cock in such a delicious way. He was right where he wanted to be, with his woman in his arms and loving him with mouth and hands.