Текст книги "Savage Awakening"
Автор книги: J. Tyler
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Текущая страница: 11 (всего у книги 16 страниц)
Aric shifted to human form, crouched on his knees, arms wrapped around his middle, and sucked in a deep breath. Maybe that way he could hold in the guts that were being ripped from his torso. “Back the fuck off, Nicky.”
His commander shifted, and so did Aric’s friends—if that’s still what they were.
“Can’t do that, and you know it,” Nick said in his don’t-screw-with-me voice. However stern he sounded, worry still bled into his tone.
“You don’t interfere with free will, remember?” Aric snapped.
Concern turned to anger as he took a step closer. “I’m making a goddamned exception. Do you honestly believe you’re the only one suffering? That you won’t leave a giant hole in this team if you do something so stupid?”
That gave him pause. “I—”
“There’s a consequence for every action, Aric. These guys are your brothers, and they’d die for you. Do you care so little for them that you’d place their futures in danger because you took the easy way out?”
A chill settled in his chest, despite the rising fever that made him feel like he was about to self-combust. “I never thought about it like that.”
“Which is why I’m telling you. Taking your own life will have far-reaching and devastating effects on every single man here, not to mention on others who aren’t present. You can’t do this. I won’t let you.” The finality in his voice was both a relief and a burden.
“I’m responsible for what happened to the team,” he said hoarsely. “You heard Jax—I should be dead. He was right. It’s what I deserve.”
“No.” A new voice broke in. “I was wrong.”
Great. Just what he needed, Jax getting in his face again. Aric eyed the man warily as he approached, noted the shame etched on his face.
“What prompted the change of heart? Don’t want me offing myself on your conscience?”
Jax winced. “After I calmed down, I knew I didn’t mean what I said to you. And you were right about Beryl—I’ve got my own load of guilt for trusting her, and I can’t lay that on you. I’m sorry as hell for transferring the blame, and I hope you can forgive me.”
He stared at his friend for a long moment. “It’s not a question of forgiving you. It’s whether I can get square with my part in that whole fucking mess.”
“Still…” Jax swallowed hard. “I need to hear it.”
“I forgive you, man.” God, he had to tell them the rest. “But it’s not going to make any difference in the long run.”
“Why? What do you mean? You’re not still planning to—”
“No. I’ll let nature take its course, but I won’t hurry the inevitable.” Everyone looked puzzled. Except Nick. Steeling himself, he explained. “I’ve found my mate, but I can’t claim her.”
A moment of stunned silence followed that announcement, and then they all started talking at once, peppering him with questions. Most prevalent were, “Who is she?” and “Why the hell not?”
He held up a hand. “You all might as well know. It’s Rowan.”
“Holy crap!” Ryon exclaimed.
He headed off more nosy inquiries. “I can’t claim her because she’s leaving for L.A. again as soon as Micah’s better. She loves her job as a cop and I won’t take her away from her life. She doesn’t want a mate and even if she did, she deserves a better one than me and the dangers that come with living in my world.”
“That’s such bullshit,” Jax said angrily. “It’s worked out for Kira and me just fine. Have you even told Rowan what’s going on?”
“No, and all of you are going to promise you won’t breathe a word. I mean it. This isn’t your problem.”
“Yes, it is,” Zan insisted. “Bro, you’ll dieif you don’t claim your mate, and we can’t afford to lose you—on the team or as our friend.”
Aric looked away, into the gathering darkness. “Maybe not, but it doesn’t matter. Promise me.”
One by one, they did, though reluctantly. Everyone but Nick, who just returned Aric’s glare with a hard one of his own.
“I won’t say anything unless I feel I have to.”
“Fine.” Aric sighed. He supposed that was the best he was going to get.
What a joke. His team had intervened, but he was going to die anyway. He’d let down anyone who’d ever loved him. He didn’t deserve to be happy, to have a beautiful mate. He’d only end up hurting her, too.
The sun set completely as they shifted and started the long walk back to the compound. Even among his Pack, he felt alone in the dark.
Aching for what might’ve been, if only he’d been a better man.
Eleven
Rowan hovered at the window to the rec room, alternating between pacing and peering into the waning evening. As in any workplace, word had gotten around about the fight in no time.
Sariel and a couple of others had found Rowan keeping vigil and had been concerned about what happened. She’d simply told them that the boys had a disagreement and went for a run to work out their frustrations. A vague response, but she figured the team’s dirty laundry was their business to air, or not.
“They haven’t returned?”
She looked around to see the gorgeous Fae walk in again, his brow furrowed. “Not yet.”
“I think this ‘disagreement’ was more serious than you said, since you’ve paced there for over two hours.”
“You could say that. But it’s not my story to tell.”
“I understand. I only wanted to check and see if you needed a friend.”
“Thanks.” She smiled at him. “A person can never have too many of those.”
“Oh, I don’t know. A handful of really good, loyal ones has always been enough for me.” His voice was wistful, his expression distant for a moment.
“Did you leave behind someone special in your world?” she asked gently. His golden eyes were so sad, she could’ve cried for him. She didn’t cry easily.
“My five brothers, and my best friend. They were all on a diplomatic visit to the Vampire Coalition or the Seelie court would never have succeeded in casting me from the realm. Politics, you know?”
“I’m so sorry,” she said sincerely. “Your brothers and your friend, they knew that your father is this Unseelie bastard?”
“Yes. They loved me anyway,” he said quietly, “as did my late stepfather. Now my oldest brother is king, and none of them ever would’ve told my secret. I don’t know how the court found out.”
“Maybe Malik told them, or arranged for someone else to do it?”
“Why would he do that? Raping my mother was, and still is, a crime punishable by death.”
“Well, it got you kicked out, didn’t it? And now you’re without the protection of your kind.”
“Which is exactly what he must’ve wanted.” He shook his head, causing the fall of sapphire hair to wave like silk. His wings rustled in agitation. “I’ve been stupid. I couldn’t understand how the court learned Malik sired me, but it never occurred to me that he might have been behind it.”
“You haven’t seen him since you’ve been… on earth?” It was still hard to say shit like that.
His smile was faint. “The Seelie court as well as the Vampire Coalition exist on earth, just on different planes. But to answer your question, yes. Malik was waiting for me almost the instant I landed in the middle of a busy street in Ireland, on the wrong side of the veil.”
She blinked, trying to picture that. “Wings and all?”
“Unfortunately. My appearance caused quite a panic, which alerted Malik to my location. I fled, and barely managed to stay one step ahead of him, hiding in several different places. During all of this, the Alpha Pack team was alerted to my presence and came to apprehend me.”
“But not Malik?” She frowned. “Why didn’t they grab him?”
“He’s much more skilled at cloaking for long periods of time than I am, and I was at a severe disadvantage. From what the team has learned, we now know he’s living among humans. I very much doubt his subordinates know exactly what Malik is, or how close they really are to dealing with the devil.”
“So he appears to be a normal guy,” she mused aloud.
“The Pack hasn’t had a distress call to apprehend a seven-foot-tall, ugly-as-a-Sluagh’s-ass Unseelie with batlike wings and two large horns protruding from the sides of his head, so I’m guessing yes. He appears normal.”
She snorted. “Smart-ass.”
“Thank you.” He appeared pleased. “I’m learning. Humor is sort of lost on the Seelie.”
“Serious bunch, huh?”
“You could say that.”
She paused. “Would you know Malik, even if he was cloaked, as you say?”
“The Fae can sense one another from long distances. If I were in a room with a bunch of humans, except one was a Fae in disguise, I could identify which one it was because of the magical field they can’t hide from other Fae. The Sorcerer, Kalen, might even be able to do this.”
“Would you be able to tell if the Fae is Malik in particular?”
“Yes, because I’m his blood. Same with my brothers.”
“Hmm.” She regarded her new friend thoughtfully. “Why does this guy have such a hard-on for you? I mean, it’s not like you’re the king or anything– Damn, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean any offense.”
“None taken. You make a valid point, but I’m the bastard of a Seelie queen and an Unseelie king. Powerful blood, even though tainted, and our tie makes me the only Fae strong enough to kill him. Not that I would’ve tried without provocation, but that doesn’t matter to him.”
“Okay, that makes sense, then.” Christ, Sariel was in real trouble with that piece of pond scum for a daddy, who had scores of Sluagh at his beck and call. “Why hasn’t he come after you before? You’re grown, after all.”
“Grown.” The prince laughed, the smile doing dazzling things to his face. “I’m nine thousand years old, in human time measurement.”
“You—you’re lying,” she stammered. “Human time?”
“In my world, that’s nothing. I’m practically a baby.”
She eyed his gorgeous self from head to toe. “You’re definitely not an infant.”
“Figure of speech. But I’m relatively young in a realm where my kind are ageless. As for Malik, I don’t know why he’s making a move to kill me now when before he couldn’t be bothered. Perhaps he’ll care to explain before he butchers me.”
“He’s not going to do that, because the Pack won’t let that happen.”
“And speaking of which, they’ve returned.” He flicked a hand toward the window.
In the moonlight, the sight of several wolves and one panther emerging from the forest was eerily beautiful. They were pretty much dragging, though, heads and tails drooping. In the middle of the group was a familiar red wolf, and it seemed the others surrounded him almost protectively. Rowan itched to know what had gone down out there.
As the men neared the back door, they shifted one by one and Kalen immediately waved a hand, doing his thing to clothe their buff bodies. Pity.
“I have a feeling you’ll want to talk to Aric,” the prince said. “I’ll see you later.”
“Hey, we’ll talk more about your situation. I’m sure the guys will come up with a way to catch Malik, and solve a whole bunch of problems, including yours.”
He nodded. “Thank you. That means a lot to me.”
She watched him go with a little tug at her heart. She likely wouldn’t be around for any of the fireworks when the team finally did take out Malik and his operation. Why did that bother her? When Micah was better, he’d keep her updated. So it wasn’t like she’d be losing all of them.
The Pack trooped inside and suddenly she wasn’t sure how to position herself, what to do with her hands. She didn’t want to appear as though she’d been waiting anxiously for Aric’s return, which was ridiculous because she’d never been the type to be overly concerned with what others thought. But then, the men and women she worked with at the station were mostly that—coworkers with whom she felt totally comfortable. Since meeting Aric and his team, she’d been anything but.
The second Aric’s green eyes met hers, she was thrown off balance. She didn’t like feeling out of control, as if something greater than the two of them was hard at work, drawing her like a magnet to a man who would make falling for him such a rough ride. She wasn’t the picket fence type. She had a rewarding job—well, most of the time—and her independence. This redheaded wolf came with too much baggage. He was a lot of trouble.
And she found herself crossing to him, intent on making sure he was all right. She stepped in front of him, gripping his arms, studying his face. The bruises and split lip from the beating Jax had given him were already healing, but there were circles under his eyes. Heat radiated from his skin. Was he hotter than before?
“What happened?”
“We kissed and made up. It’s all good.” He smirked, but the effort at offhandedness didn’t quite ring true. The rest of the Pack filed past them, looking as worn out as Aric.
“Can’t you ever be serious when you’re asked a direct question?”
“I don’t need a mother, sweetheart. Had one, fumbled the ball. Go figure.”
“What I’m feeling right now is anything but motherly—unless you count the number of times she probably wanted to strangle you! Talk to me, damn it.”
The mask slipped away and shattered at his feet. The raw anguish she’d witnessed in the face of Jax’s accusations returned full force. “I was gonna throw myself off a cliff, but they stopped me,” he said harshly. “And I wish like hell they hadn’t. Is that direct enough for you, officer?”
The sneer at her profession, at the fact that she cared, irked her. But that wasn’t what really set her off. “Do you know what I did before I came here? I killed a man. Shot him right through the heart because he drew his gun on me. His choice, and he’s dead because of it, regardless of the fact that if he’d taken one more second to think, if he hadn’t been high, he’d still be alive. But I had to act, and was put on mandatory suspension until I was cleared of wrongdoing.”
“Your point?”
“Do you honestly think that man wanted to leave his wife and kids with no support? That he wanted to be worm food? He had a miserable life, but it wasworth something. He threw it and his family away on an impulsive decision he can never undo. Don’t make the same mistake.”
He stared at her for a couple of seconds, then started clapping. The noise was rude in the empty space, the mask in place again. “Bravo. You have a tissue so I can wipe my tears?”
“You are suchan asshole!”
She stomped off, left him standing there, his laughter floating at her back. His tactic was so transparent, yet she allowed him to get the best of her anyway. This was exactly what he wanted—to put up a wall she couldn’t breach. His attitude was a shield he erected between him and the world, probably always had, and he wielded it like a warrior.
Well, he wasn’t going to get away with that. He’d won the battle but not the war. She needed some time to cool off and regain her infamous composure, and then the jerk was toast.
Uh-huh. Five minutes ago he was too much trouble. So why do you care so much, girlfriend?
She was sure she didn’t want to know the answer.
Aric sat listlessly on the sofa in his quarters, feet propped on the coffee table, crossed at the ankles. On TV was a rerun of some reality show, the one where young twentysomethings went on dates that were set up by their “friends” to turn out horrible on purpose. Usually, he’d be laughing his ass off and munching on popcorn.
Tonight, he couldn’t dredge up a smile.
Do you know what I did before I came here? I killed a man.
“And another when you arrived,” he whispered.
But that wasn’t fair to Rowan. She had no idea what was happening to him, and never would. He’d instruct Micah and Nick to give her some “official” story that he’d been killed by a Sluagh or something. God, how morose.
Rising, he walked to the living room window and stared into the night. He longed to run again, to just keep going forever, selfish asshole that he was. Rowan had that right. Otherwise, he would’ve made an attempt to actually listen to what she’d been trying to get into his thick skull. And he would’ve shown a lot more empathy for what she’d been forced to do.
Killing was never easy. The truth was, it sickened him to take a life. Any life, even one as dangerous and destructive as a Sluagh. Ironic, for a man who’d joined the SEALs and had been a part of a damned good team. He knew very well how Rowan must’ve felt, doing her job and wishing the outcome had been different.
He owed her an apology.
“Crap,” he muttered and stalked to the door.
Covering the short distance to her room in a matter of moments, he knocked loudly, just in case she’d gone to bed. He checked his watch. Ten? That wasn’t too late, but then again they’d had an eventful day. What with nearly being eaten and all.
He gave her about thirty seconds, which seemed like an eon, and knocked again. Nothing but silence met his summons and he frowned. Where the heck could she be?
Since it was way past dinner, the rec room was his next stop. Unfortunately, it was empty, too. Frustrated, he headed in the general direction of Nick’s office and the conference room. He briefly considered that something urgent might’ve come up and they hadn’t had time to grab him yet, then nixed that idea. If that had happened, Nick would’ve gotten on the newly repaired PA system.
At the end of the hallway, he spotted Ryon and Zan talking to Nick, and he relaxed a bit. At least the building wasn’t as deserted as it appeared.
“Please,” Ryon wheedled, sounding like a teenager. “If you come with us, it’ll make three, and that’s enough.”
Nick shook his head. “I said no groups smaller than four, and I’m not going to break my own rule. Besides, that would leave us with only Hammer, Jax, and A.J. in the building to fight if we had any unwelcome visitors.”
Ryon kept at his boss. “Kalen put that spell on the building, remember? It’ll be fine. Come on, Nicky, we haven’t gone into town in forever, and the others are already there. We’re missing out on the fun.”
The others? “Who went to town?” Aric asked, stopping next to the group and eyeing each of them.
Ryon answered, exasperated. “Kalen, Sariel, Mackenzie, and Rowan. They went to the Cross-eyed Grizzly to blow off some steam. Hard day and all.”
“And the way to reward yourself at the end of a ‘hard day’ is to get drunk and throw up,” Nick said drily, rolling his eyes. “I think Bill Cosby did a routine about that once.”
Zan snickered. “Lighten up, boss. Nobody’s gonna get drunk. Buzzed, maybe.”
“I have an idea.” Ryon brightened. “Aric can come with us, and that’s four. Problem solved.”
Aric held up a hand. “Man, I’m beat. I was just looking for Rowan to, um, say I’m sorry for being such a dick earlier.” He really didn’t feel like going out, as appealing as it sounded to be with Rowan in a casual, fun setting.
“Yeah?” His blond-haired friend got a decidedly evil look in his eyes. “I’d say she’s already forgotten all about you andyour dick, so no worries.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Just that she seemed pretty happy to be going out on the arm of a Fae prince who looks like a fuckin’ runway model, that’s all.” He shot Aric a grin.
The picture Ryon had painted made his wolf strain to shred something and his blood began a slow boil. Rowan and Sariel. Getting cozy at the Grizzly and drinking the night away. Oh, fuck no. That was not going to do.
Quickly, he checked his jeans, T-shirt, and shit-kickers. Not much, but he’d probably look better than the regulars. He doubted most of them bathed. “I’m in. Nicky?”
With a sigh, the boss relented. “I’ll go for a while, but I’m not staying all night.”
“Woo-hoo!” Ryon pumped his fist.
Aric tried to recall when he’d felt that young, and decided it had been before his stepfather and Beryl had invaded his life. Not something he wanted to think about.
“Hang on. How is Sariel able to be out at a bar?” he asked.
“Kalen helped him out with a cloaking spell.” Nick smiled. “You should see them. Those two look like brothers now.”
Aric tried to call that image to mind, and failed.
Outside, they piled into one of the SUVs with Nick behind the wheel and Aric in the front passenger seat. Ryon, Christ love him, kept the conversation lighthearted, chattering like a monkey on crack the entire way, as though trying to somehow compensate for the total steaming pile of dung the day had turned out to be.
His friend didn’t take a breath until Nick parked outside the Grizzly and shut off the ignition. By then Aric’s ears were ringing. Maybe his brain would hemorrhage and he wouldn’t have to sit in a bar full of stinky wannabe outdoorsmen for hours. But as soon as he went inside, he knew he wouldn’t be that lucky.
It took him about two seconds to spot the foursome against the far wall at a long table. They were laughing, having a great time, obviously doing their part to put the day behind them. Kalen and Sariel each had longnecks. Mac was sipping what looked like a margarita, and Rowan had two shots of gold liquid and lime wedges lined up in front of her. He wasn’t surprised to find she’d skipped the margarita and gone straight for the tequila.
As his group approached, Aric’s attention was drawn to Sariel. The prince took a drink of his beer, trying to emulate his male companion, and ended up choking. Guess they don’t serve Sam Adams in the Seelie court.Rowan pounded him on the back, smiling, then hugged his waist, she and Mac making sympathetic noises.
Aric held back a snarl. Even with his wings hidden, his long hair disguised as jet-black, dressed in jeans and a form-fitting black button-down shirt, the male was too damned pretty. And way too sensual, leaning into Rowan’s attentions, like a cat arching for a nice petting.
The guy would have to find someone else to scratch his itch.
“Can’t hold your booze, huh, Sam?” Aric took the vacant seat next to Rowan. Nick, Zan, and Ryon took up open spots at the end.
Sariel’s smile of welcome turned puzzled. “Sam?”
He pointed to the bottle. “Nickname. I was teasing you.” Blank stare. “The beer you’re drinking is Sam Adams.”
“Oh! Yes, well…” Sariel’s nose wrinkled. “Kalen talked me into ordering this and it tastes horrible. I’m sure thatwould be much better.” He pointed to Mac’s drink.
“Want to try one?” Rowan asked. “They’re smooth and sweet, and taste like limeade. With a kick.”
The prince gave his enthusiastic approval and Rowan waved at the server. The girl hurried over, giving the men of their group an appreciative eye before taking their order. Sariel requested his margarita, but the rest, including Aric, went for beers. Zan helped himself to the Fae’s abandoned brew as a warm-up. Or cool-down. Whatever.
Looking around first to make sure nobody was listening, Aric addressed Nick. “Are we sure it’s safe for him to be out in public?” He gestured to Sariel. “Nice work with the disguise, but his kind can sense him.”
Kalen flashed him a look of irritation. “My spell will work. Why don’t we try to have a night out and relax for a change? We could all use the break.”
Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to unwind. Nobody wanted to hang with a perpetual downer, even if his worries were valid. Deciding to try some small talk, he gestured to Kalen’s chest.
“I noticed Mac is wearing your pendant. What’s up with that?” He cocked his head. “What haven’t you told us about the attack on you and Mac?”
The couple glanced at each other and Nick, and Kalen shrugged. Aric thought his nonchalance was forced.
“It happened while you were being held captive. The pendant is protection against evil and I’m letting Mac wear it for a while, that’s all. The encounter with those things shook her up and having it on makes her feel better.”
“I think that’s a glossed-over answer.” Aric narrowed his eyes.
Mac gave a weak smile. “What’s the big deal? Like Kalen said, let’s just have a nice evening.”
Nick changed the subject with discussion about a new laser weapon being developed by Grant and his team in the government. Aric tuned them out. Sitting back, he slung an arm over the back of Rowan’s chair and whispered into her ear.
“You went out and didn’t invite me to the party? I’m crushed.” Actually, he kind of was. But he didn’t want her to know.
“Maybe because you pissed me off?” she suggested sweetly.
“Yeah, about that… Could we step outside for a minute?”
“I don’t know. I’m having a pretty good time right where I am.”
The stubborn set of her jaw, the militant flash in those big brown eyes, her shiny hair falling around her shoulders were so freaking sexy. His damned cock went rock hard in his jeans and he had to press the heel of his hand to his crotch to get it to behave. Not that it worked. “Please?”
“Let me think—no.”
“Fine, have it your way.” Pounding a fist on the table, and causing his friends to jump, he cleared his throat. Their conversation stopped, and he met their curious stares without flinching. “I owe Rowan, and everyone else, an apology. I was a complete dick this afternoon and I’m sorry.”
Silence.
And then, from Kalen, “Is that it?”
He scowled. “What else do you want? A dozen roses?”
The Sorcerer snickered. “Not me, but the lady there might feel differently.”
He turned to Rowan and found that the ice had thawed, some. But he had a bit more work cut out for him. Mustering every ounce of sincerity, he laid his hand over hers on the tabletop. “I get what you were telling me earlier. I apologize for being a jackass. I do that when things get too intense and I don’t want to deal, but that’s no excuse for shutting you down when you shared something really painful that you went through. I’m sorry, Ro.”
Her eyes softened and she offered a small smile. “Nobody calls me that but Micah.”
“Do you mind?”
“No, of course not. Apology accepted.”
Whew. “Thanks, honey. Did you get to check on Micah before you guys left?”
“I did. He was awake again, but he didn’t say a single word this time. I probably shouldn’t have left him.”
“No,” he said, heading off a fretting session. “You had to get away for a while, and he’s in good hands. Melina and the nurses are all watching out for him.”
She relaxed some. “You’re right. I just can’t help but worry.”
“Have some fun tonight, then get some sleep. You can see him in the morning.”
“All right.”
She managed to loosen up, and the conversation lightened considerably. The eight of them ended up having a good time, sharing some laughs. Rowan entertained them with some funny stories of calls she and her partner, Danny, had answered, and the guys took turns sharing some of their humorous predicaments, too.
Aric tried not to wonder if this Danny she spoke so highly of was someone she missed a lot. And failed.
“Want to take that walk now?” she said in his ear.
Nick, who overheard, shook his head. “Groups of four.”
“Jesus,” Aric bitched. “We’ll be right outside. Come on, man, give me a break.”
His boss hesitated, then reluctantly gave his assent. “I’m not picking up on anything, but don’t be long.”
“Sure.” Taking a last draw on his beer, he grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the exit. As they stepped onto the wooden porch that ran along the front, he sucked in a lungful of crisp night air. “God, it’s good to get out of there. The noise and smoke were getting to me.”
“I feel like a sixteen-year-old running off to make out.”
“Is that what we’re going to do?” he asked hopefully.
His “date” giggled. “Oh, if you’re lucky.”
“We’ll see about that.”
Outside was quiet, the thump-thumpof the country music muffled, thank Christ. There were no bar patrons hanging around, just the normal trickle of one or two coming and going at a time. Aric led her to the corner of the building opposite the parking lot, the side that faced the trees, and pulled her into the darkness, out of sight. Opening his wolf’s senses, he inhaled deeply. There were no smells other than the normal ones, earth and foliage and the regular nocturnal animals.
“What are you doing?”
“Making sure we don’t get surprised this time.” Pushing her back against the side of the building, he grinned and cupped her face. “I don’t plan on being interrupted.”
Before she could voice a protest, he crushed his mouth to hers. Licked inside to play with her tongue, loving her sweetness. Tequila and something else potent that was all Rowan. Skimming his palms south, he found the edge of her red crop top and journeyed underneath, finding the lush twin mounds he’d been dying to squeeze all day.
She moaned, arching into his touch, giving him permission to keep going. Her bra was some lacy thing, sort of sheer, and he had fun plucking her nipples through the material, teasing them to taut peaks. Then his fingers found the button of her jeans, making short work of that and the zipper.
His hand slipped inside her panties, sought her silky curls. Brushed through them to find that warm place between her thighs and rub her clit, spreading the moisture.
“Aric…” Her voice was breathy. Growing more excited.
“Let’s get these jeans out of the way so I can make you feel really good, baby.” Grabbing the waistband, he shucked them down along with her panties, leaving them at her calves. Then he spun her to face the building. “Hands on the wall, spread your feet out more.”
“Aric, we could get arrested for indecent exposure,” she breathed. But she assumed the position.
“Nick will bail us out.” Smoothing his palms over her hips and the round globes of her plump ass, he licked his lips. “Spread a little more. There’s a good girl. Tell me what you want, honey.”
“I—I want you to fuck me.” She poked her ass back, inviting him.
“How do you want it? Tell me.” With his right hand, he skimmed under the curve of her ass. Took two fingers and parted her folds, and rubbed the slit. Then worked inside to fuck her channel, drive her crazy.
“H-hard and fast. Fuck me like you mean it!”
His wolf rumbled in approval. Anticipation. His canines dropped and his heart sped up as he quickly freed his dripping cock. Brought the head to her entrance and began to push into the velvet heat.
“Shit, yes. You’re so hot and tight, baby. You just brace yourself, ’cause I’m gonna give you a ride to remember.”
“Do it.”
She begged so pretty, he almost came from that, and from the sight of his woman spread for him. Wet and ready for his cock. “Mine.”
“Yours! Oh, yes… all the way, I need you in me!”
He thrust to the hilt and stilled for a few seconds, gripping her waist. The need to bite her, claim his mate, was never stronger than at that moment. It took all his willpower not to succumb to the blinding, tearing need to bond. To make her his for always.
