by Lori King
She watched Luke as lowered his face right up against the thin strip of hair covering her pussy and inhaled.
He growled. “You smell so good—so mine.” He used his hands to spread her lower lips open and then he licked her in one long swipe.
Nothing was more erotic than that, except seeing the look of desire and pleasure on his face after he did it. He licked her again and again with eagerness. It was clear that Luke was a man who loved foreplay.
Rita felt the pulsing sensation growing stronger and stronger; she needed to come so bad. “Please, Luke.”
He inserted one long finger, then another. “You are so tight. When was the last time you had sex?”
She wiggled her hips against the feeling of awkwardness as his fingers tried to invade her. “I haven’t . . .”
He froze and looked up at her. “What do you mean by . . . you haven’t?”
She looked down at him, feeling nervous. Would finding out she was a virgin turn him off? Robby had cheated on her with Chrissy for months before finally breaking up with her because she wouldn’t put out.
“I haven’t been with anyone before.”
“Never?”
She shook her head. “Nope. We don’t have to—” She tried to pull her leg away, but instead of letting go, he pulled it farther over his shoulder.
“We do have to, because I have been thinking of this since first meeting you.”
He returned to fucking her slowly with his fingers. The pulsing was now beating faster than her heart. She was so close to reaching her climax.
Luke sucked her clit into his hot mouth and matched the rhythm that his fingers set. She wasn’t going to last long. Then he did the most unexpected thing: he hummed against her clit. The vibration rocketed up her spine and she arched her back, screaming out her release.
“Luke…” She felt boneless, just ready to collapse right there on the shower floor.
He stood up and twisted the shower knobs to the off position. Then he stepped out of the shower stall and reached for a towel.
“But you didn’t come yet.” She was confused.
He held the towel up for her. “Your first time should not be standing up in a shower. Come on, baby. We’ll get you dried off and take this to your bed.”
She stepped out and let him dry her off. His fingers skimmed her skin and she felt that pulsing start all over again.
He leaned down and whispered in her ear. “I’m taking you to your bed and fucking you until the sun rises and both of us can barely stand.”
She shivered with need. “Yes, please.”
13
Luke tried not to show how anxious he was, but he wanted Rita in the worst way. To think that she was still a virgin was mind-boggling. Knowing that did help to calm him down enough to realize how important it was to go slow with her. He didn’t want to scare her off.
It was a lot of pressure on him to make her first time special, but it was also a tremendous honor. His wolf was beaming on the inside, gloating that no other had touched their mate like that, and none other except them ever would. His wolf was trying to push forward to show Rita that she was theirs, but Luke kept him reined in. Slow, remember, we have to go slow.
He quickly dried himself off.
“I could help,” Rita offered, looking him over with desire.
He shook his head. “If you start touching me now, we won’t make it to the bedroom.” He half-groaned, half-chuckled when she pouted and then bit her bottom lip. Damn, but his mate was cute and sexy.
She gasped when he bent and picked her up in his arms. He carried her down the hallway. There were two bedrooms upstairs, but he knew which one was hers easily from her scent.
He entered her room and stopped completely. “My God—you love pink, woman.”
She giggled and blushed. “I haven’t changed my childhood bedroom since moving back in after my father died. Mom doesn’t want me to throw anything away until she can pack up the things she wants to keep and put it in the attic. Personally, I think she wants me to be her little girl forever. If—if this bothers you we can go to the guest bedroom.”
He looked down into her worried face. A deep tenderness filled him, like he had never felt before. He had loved serving his country, loved his wolf pack, and loved his family, but what Rita made him feel was so much deeper, it went straight to his very soul.
“Oh, no, I’m going to make you a woman right here in the presence of—Winnie the Pooh and Barbie. They’ll be our witnesses.”
She laughed and slapped his shoulder playfully. “You are so bad, Luke.”
He lowered her onto the fluffy pink and white polka dot comforter. “I can be very good at being very bad.” He came down with her and kissed her sweet, plump lips. Everything about her, from her beautiful eyes down to her toes, was perfect. He planned to lavish her with all the attention she could stand. But she still looked nervous, and he needed to make sure she was comfortable.
He lay down next to her. “I know I was an idiot earlier, but I really do want you more than anything.”
“I want you, too. I just wish I knew more about you.”
“What do you want to know?”
“You were in the military, what was that like?”
“I was proud to serve, but grateful to retire from it,” he answered as he ran his fingers lightly over the soft skin of her arm. “Fighting can take a piece of you, whether it’s physical, emotional, or mental. If you fight too long, there’s not many pieces left of you worth living with. I saw it happen to friends of mine and knew that I had to get out before that happened.”
She cupped his cheek with such tenderness. “I didn’t mean to bring it up.”
He kissed her nose. “It’s okay. I feel like I can tell you anything. I lost a piece of myself while away, but looking into your eyes, I feel like I found a piece of myself I never knew existed.” He worried that he had told her too much, but then she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately.
“I want you, Luke,” she whispered against his lips. Thank God.
He reached down to her junction and massaged her, coating his fingers with her sweet juice. Then he inserted his fingers, pumping in and out. He felt the thin barrier that marked her maidenhead. He wanted to break through it with his fingers to make it as painless as he could when he took her with his cock, but he wanted it to be her decision.
“I am trying my best not to hurt you, but to take it slow and easy. I’m desperate for you.”
“I don’t want to wait any longer, make me yours.”
Yes, she would be theirs after this, because his wolf was pushing forth, demanding that he mark her as theirs. He moved over her. She wrapped her legs around his hips. He rubbed the tip of his cock against her, letting her juices coat him, then he lined his head up and slowly started to push past her folds.
“You’re so tight, baby.” He groaned a little in pleasure and pain. He stopped just at her barrier. He glanced up to see that she was watching intently.
“Look at me, honey, in my eyes.” Their gazes locked and he pushed forward in one swift move to break the thin barrier.
She gasped in pain. He leaned down to kiss her in an effort to distract her from it. He sucked her tongue and made small, quick rocking motions, little by little working his cock into her tight channel. Finally, her inner walls relaxed, and he was able to fully seat himself inside of her. Nothing in his life had ever felt more right than being with her.
He pulled up and pushed back in with long, slow, steady strokes. Soon, they were both aching for a faster pace. Rita started to squeeze her legs, urging him to move harder and deeper. He was more than happy to oblige her.
Together, they set a pace that made them both moan in pleasure. Sweat beaded on their bodies, making them slide against each other with a wet and silky sensation. He kept his head turned to the side when he felt his wolf pushing forward, but he couldn’t stop his eyes from acquiring a bit of a golden glow. His canines lengthened. Luke neede
d to mark her more than his next breath.
“Luke, I’m going to come,” Rita gasped as she closed her eyes and tilted her head back against the mattress.
His gaze followed the smooth line of her jaw to her neck and fixated on the spot where her neck and shoulder met. Luke lowered his head and nuzzled the soft skin while reaching between their bodies to pluck at her perfect tits. Every pinch caused a ricochet effect from her breasts straight to her pussy. He felt those effects, as her inner walls vibrated in response each time. He was going to release as well. They both just need a little more—push.
His wolf forced his canines out a little more, and he opened his mouth over the spot on her neck and let them sink in. Everything about her was like an aphrodisiac, even the small amount of blood he tasted. It made him pound wildly into her pussy. Rita screamed out as her orgasm crashed over her, her pussy locked down on his cock, milking him over and over.
When he finally came back to himself, he released her neck and licked it to help heal the wound. There will be a mark there, proving to all that she was his. His wolf was completely and utterly sated. Luke felt that more than just his seed had been released from his cock, as if a piece of his soul had left him to unite with her. He felt a tight connection bind them, something he had only heard his parents talk about as he was growing up. He thought it was just a romantic exaggeration, but now he knew it was real.
Rita was his true mate and their souls were now bound to one another. She would live as long as he did and heal quickly, even though she wasn’t a wolf. Now, he just had to find a way to tell her that they were mates for life.
He rose up on his elbows and looked down into her relaxed and sated face. “Babe, are you okay?”
She looked up at him and smiled wide. “That was—amazing…” Then her head slumped to the side as her eyes slipped shut and she fell into a deep sleep. He worried for a moment that he might have hurt her, but then she let out a little snore. He chuckled, pulling her with him as he turned them to their sides. Even her snore was adorable. Luke wasn’t normally an impulsive person, but when everything in him told him that she was the one, he had had to claim her.
He would let her sleep a little bit before he made love to her again. Now that he had gotten a taste of her, he was hungry for more.
14
Rita woke up feeling more content than she had ever been her whole life. She was also extremely aroused. Big strong hands were stroking up and down her spine, followed by lips. She moaned.
“You’re totally insatiable.” She opened one eye to look at him.
“Yes, I am, when it comes to you.” He nibbled her earlobe.
“What time is it?” She leaned back further to give him more room to reach her neck.
“Eight-thirty.”
“What?” She rolled out from under him, hopping out of bed.
“Where are you going?”
“I’m so late! I need to open up the store at nine!”
“Do you have to? Couldn’t you take the day off and stay in bed with me?”
She bit her bottom lip, tempted to take him up on his suggestion. “I need to work. I love it. I can’t just not go in, especially in October! I don’t have anyone to open up for me. My mother stayed at the hospital with Jerry’s family. I need to check up on her, too.”
He sighed sitting up. “You go shower and dress, and I’ll go downstairs and make you breakfast.”
She smiled at him. “No one but my mom or my friend Mindy has ever made me breakfast.”
He stood up and pulled on his jeans but left his boots and shirt off. “Is there anything you don’t like to eat?”
“Nope, I’m not picky when it comes to food—as you can see,” she joked about her size.
He growled at her, which made her turn in shock to look at him. He was glaring at her angrily.
“Don’t ever talk about yourself in a negative way again.”
“I know I’m overweight, so there’s no need for us to pretend I’m not. People like that skinny bitch Chrissy Baker have picked on me my whole life. I’ve tried to lose weight, but it would go up and down like a yo-yo, making me feel even more like a failure. I finally just decided to work on being healthy, not thin.”
He walked over to her and cupped her face with his hands. “You are perfect just the way you are.”
She shook her head. “You don’t know me that well.”
“I know that you’re smart and funny. I love your laughter and your gorgeous smile. I love your curves; you’re so soft and sexy. You are a good friend and daughter. You moved back to help your mom after your dad died, but then you stayed to watch over her, which you didn’t have to do. Every day, you ask if you can help someone, a customer or a neighbor. You are there for all of them. You have a great sense of humor and a big, forgiving heart. You forgave me for being the biggest ass ever, and let me in when you didn’t have to. I think that also makes you brave.”
He kissed her deeply until she had to hold onto his arms to stay upright. She grumbled when he finally let her. He chuckled and kissed her nose.
“Go shower and change. I’ll be downstairs.”
She grabbed her clothes and headed down the hallway to the bathroom. She turned the water on and waited until it was nice and steamy. She stepped into the shower stall and moaned in pleasure as the hot water massaged her muscles. She ached in places she didn’t even know she had, but it was a delicious ache. She should probably soak in a hot tub to totally ease her muscles, but she didn’t have time this morning.
She’d barely had time to think about all that had happened. She’d gone from watching her ex and Chrissy break up, to being questioned by the sheriff for murder, to having her first sexual encounter with a guy she had initially thought she hated.
When she’d first met Luke, she thought he was gorgeous but a complete and utter asshole. Now, she saw that he had a different side to him. He was funny and sweet. The things he said to her when he held her after making love had made her feel wanted and special.
She was already halfway in love with him. Was it too soon? Probably, but she couldn’t help her feelings.
She turned off the water and stepped out of the shower, dried herself off, and got dressed. She quickly did a light base foundation with lipstick and a little blush. She didn’t usually wear much makeup during the day, and she rarely went out at night, so it wasn’t like she had anything to dress up for, but having Luke here made her want to look her best, so she added a little eye shadow. It was as good as she was going to get.
She had a pair of boots downstairs that she could wear so she grabbed some socks and made her way down the stairs. Voices came to her when she was halfway down the stairs. She froze when she heard a feminine and familiar laugh. Oh, no—Mom.
She rushed down the stairs and around the corner into the kitchen. Her mother was sitting at the bar talking to Luke, who was plating eggs, still shirtless, muscles rippling.
“Mom, I thought you were at the hospital.”
“I came home to get some rest. I’ll head back around lunchtime. Did I interrupt something?” Her mom raised an inquisitive eyebrow.
She couldn’t help blushing. “No, I was just getting ready for work.”
Her mom looked at her watch. “You’re running a bit late today.”
“It’s my fault, Mrs. Russell, I kept her up late last night,” Luke told her with a wink.
Oh, my God, he did not just tell her mom that! Her cheeks must be flaming by now.
Her mother was enjoying watching her discomfort. “Luke, will your parents be coming back from their vacation soon? I want to have them over for dinner.”
“They should be coming back to the store in a week or so. If my dad had his way, he would be back today. I think he’s afraid I’ll run the store into the ground.” He turned to Rita. “Do you want to eat at the table or the bar?”
“The bar is fine.” She moved to sit down next to her mother, trying to ignore the looks her mom was sending her way.
“This looks wonderful.” She closed her eyes and inhaled. Her stomach growled in reaction and Luke chuckled. She took a bite of the bacon and eggs, then the biscuit. “Everything is so good. Where did the biscuits come from? I don’t remember seeing them in the refrigerator.”
Her mom pointed at Luke, “Luke made them from scratch.”
She raised her eyebrow at him. “Really?”
He shrugged his shoulders, “It’s an old family recipe.” He stood there on the other side of the bar looking at her. She glanced up and their eyes locked. She could feel the spark between them instantly. Was it getting hot in here? She waved her hand to fan herself.
Her mom cleared her throat. “Luke, aren't you going to join us?”
Luke smiled at her mom. “No, ma’am. I have to check on my ranch before I open the store.”
“What about dinner? Could you come over tonight for dinner? I’d like to get to know you better.”
“Dinner with two beautiful ladies? I could do that.” He walked around the side of the bar and kissed Rita’s cheek. “I’ll go get my boots and shirt and head out. See you tonight.”
She nodded and watched him go upstairs with wide eyes. She could feel her mom’s gaze on her and tried to avoid looking at her. She waved goodbye to Luke when he came back downstairs and left the house. Rita turned back to her plate of food and stuffed her mouth, hoping to avoid conversation.
“So, how long have you been seeing Luke Conrad?” her mom asked.
Oh, boy. Here we go. She looked at her watch. “For about twenty-four hours.”
15
Her mother grilled her for over thirty minutes on everything Luke. She got out of more questioning when she reminded her that she had to get to work. She was over an hour late opening her store, which was a first for her. Whenever she got sick, her mom usually helped cover for her.
