by Gwen Knight
More than once, she’d turned and beckoned me onward with a simple crook of her finger. The same one she’d so easily wrapped me around. I couldn’t even recall directing her to my room, but we’d found our way. Everything was a mindless haze in my head.
I held my key card in front of the door, and the second it turned green, I shoved it open and dragged Kendra inside. She kicked the door shut behind her, sealing us in darkness. Not that I needed my eyes. Even blind, I would always know where she was. It felt like she’d become a part of me. My other half.
My mate.
She came to me willingly, her silhouette stalking toward me in a way more feline than wolf. When she stepped into my embrace, I cupped her ass and lifted until her knees were locked against my hips. It lifted her above me at an angle that had me tipping my head back. I’d never tried this with a woman before, and the feel of her bending down to reach my lips sent an excited shiver down my spine.
I braced her weight, then swept her hair back from her face. “Are you sure about this?”
“Shh,” she whispered, her breath fanning my face. “Don’t worry about me.”
Easier said than done. I would always worry about her. My new goal in life was to ensure she never felt another moment of pain. If I could, I would shield her from all of it.
“But—”
She brought our mouths together, devouring my words with a hungry kiss. Her tongue stroked mine, sparking the fires within and awakening something eager and primal. Clutching her supple body against me, I fell back onto the bed with her riding me down.
My hands slid beneath her blouse and eased it over her head. A quick flick of my fingers and her bra vanished, baring her breasts to me. I wanted to feel them in my mouth, wanted to drag my lips over every part of her body, hear her moan and cry out my name. On reflex, I flipped our positions, stretching her out on the bed beneath me, her body pale in the faint moonlight pouring in through the curtains.
“So beautiful,” I murmured, my voice husky and thick with need.
With a wicked grin, she lifted her hands above her head and arched her back, a simple, seductive move that stole my breath. I took control, pinning her wrists to the mattress and lowering over her. My mouth found hers first, and after a blazing kiss that left me reeling, I moved on to her throat, nibbling and licking my way south. She sucked in a sharp breath when I hovered over her breasts. I wanted nothing more than to lave those luscious nipples of her, but anticipation was half the fun. Instead, I gave one a quick lick, then blew gently against them, watching as they instantly puckered.
Kendra arched against me, silently encouraging me to take her into my mouth, but I resisted the temptation. Another slow lick had her mewling beneath me—a most beautiful sound. I caressed her side, my fingers finding their way to her other breast. I cupped the perfect mound and gave her another teasing lick. Only when her breath hitched and her hips bucked against me did I close my mouth around her nipple, circling my tongue around the pert bud. She moaned and arched further, her hands straining against mine.
I tightened my grip, loving the feel of her restrained against me. I could sense her excitement, knew she wanted to touch me, but I wasn’t ready. I wanted her for myself, wanted to taste every inch of her before I let her play.
Once I’d showered her breasts with enough attention, I drifted south, running my mouth down the flat plane of her stomach. Her little cries were music to my ears.
I rose from her stomach and eyed her. “Leave your hands there.”
She nodded.
I released her wrists and set to peeling off her boots and jeans before tossing them aside. I’d always loved the act of undressing a woman. Revealing the artistry beneath. And Kendra was a masterpiece. She lay stretched beneath me, now clad in little more than a strip of lacy underwear. I leaned down over her and hooked my thumbs beneath the thin band, my thumbs brushing against her hips.
She stared at me, her wolf shining in her eyes, glowing with wondrous amber light.
I settled between her legs and through the lace, gave one long lick. Kendra gasped, her head falling back against the pillows. Mm, this could be fun. The lace added a teasing element. After another gentle swipe of my tongue, I slowly edged down her underwear. The second my mouth came in contact with her tender flesh, she moaned and spread her legs wider. I lost myself to the action, making love to her with my mouth, feeling out her every desire. I used her desperate cries to guide me. Every stroke and touch brought her closer to orgasm. I could feel the pressure building within, felt her squirming beneath me, until finally her body released it all with one massive tremble.
“Leo,” she panted.
Refusing to lose momentum, I slipped a finger within her and synchronized the movement to the rhythm of my tongue. She sucked in another breath, still riding the waves of her climax, her legs trembling against my shoulders.
I closed my mouth around her, gently sucking and teasing until I felt her tumble over the edge once more. I could do this forever, I realized. The sounds she made, the feel of her body climaxing against mine, knowing that I’d brought her this pleasure was addictive. But there was something I wanted more, now.
While she rode out the lingering orgasm, I quickly shucked my clothes and slipped on a condom.
I settled between her legs, about to slide within, when she opened her half-lidded eyes, gave me a contented smile, then flipped us over.
“My turn,” she purred.
I was about to argue when she straddled my hips and slid on top of me, easing me inside of her in one smooth motion. Pleasure blurred my vision, but it was nothing compared to the ecstasy that swelled within me when she started to move. I’d never had a woman so eager to be on top before. But Kendra knew what she was doing. She moved fluidly, her hands braced against my chest, her knees locked against my hips. Her head fell back, moonlight painting her face in an iridescent glow. The sight of her riding me stole my breath.
Refusing to simply lay back and enjoy, I made use of my hands, cupping and stroking every inch of her. My thumb found her clit and I massaged the sensitive nub as she moved. I felt her inner walls tighten around me, responding to my ministrations with glee. Her breath grew ragged and her pace staggered as the pleasure mounted within her.
“Oh, God,” she breathed an instant before her body shattered around me, a sensation I would soon be familiar with if she kept this up.
Kendra’s head fell forward, her palms flat against my chest. I wrapped my arms around her back and rolled her over. Without pause, I started to move within her. She gasped when I set a quicker, stronger pace. Sliding within her was unlike anything I’d ever felt. The feel of her taking me in, conforming around me, her inner walls still shivering from her orgasm, I nearly finished right there. But I wanted to make this last. Wanted to completely sate her before taking my own pleasure.
I bowed over her and took one of her nipples into my mouth, paying it as much attention as I had her clit earlier. She cried out, her back straining off the bed. I moved to her other nipple, my pace growing erratic as I neared my own climax.
Kendra clung to me, her nails digging into my back. I’d never liked that before, but somehow, with her, it only excited me further. That I’d pushed her so far that she had to cling to me gave me instant gratification.
“Please, Leo,” she begged.
I wanted to ask her to elaborate. To tell me what she wanted. But I already knew the answer. And I wanted it as much as she did. My pace quickened, the bed rocking against the wall as I thrust into her. So wet and warm.
“Come with me,” she moaned.
She hovered near the brink, and tightened around me again. I unleashed myself on her, ignoring all restraint, and pounded into her. The sensations spiraling within me were wondrous. Heat spread through every inch of me as the pleasure built until finally, I felt her body explode around me and my own climax rushed through me. I groaned and slowed to a stop, giving in to the ecstasy.
Her gentle fingers stroke
d down my back as she released a soft sigh and relaxed. “That was wonderful.”
Wonderful didn’t begin to describe it.
With my own blissful sigh, I rolled onto the bed next to her and tucked her head against my shoulder. This was how every night should end. With her at my side. And if she agreed, I’d make sure that fantasy became our reality.
Surfing didn’t happen the next day. Not that I minded. Getting thrashed by waves or laying naked in bed next to the most beautiful woman alive—gee, I wonder which choice I’d made.
We’d woken this morning with barely enough time to make it to the excursion, let alone eat beforehand. At first, we’d decided to make a go for it, but then Kendra had pushed back the covers, revealing all those beautiful curves in the daylight, and we’d never made it out of bed.
Last night had been wonderful, but this morning had given it a run for its money. After a little light petting, we’d ended up in the shower, where I’d taken her against the wall. A challenge, considering the size of the stupid showers here. But we’d managed.
Now, sopping wet, she stood wrapped in a towel, nibbling on some leftovers she’d found in my fridge. The sight of her standing barefoot in my room, eating my food, covered in my scent was the definition of perfect.
I chuckled at the sight of her mowing down my leftover fries. “What do you want to do today?”
She turned to me with a grin and wiggled her eyebrows.
Oh, I was down for more adult playtime, too. “Other than that, you minx.”
“Oh, other than giving you a series of mind-boggling orgasms. I see.” She pursed her mouth and considered her options. “How would you feel about us taking Brittany shopping?”
“Really? That’s what you want to do?”
She shrugged. “I feel bad, abandoning her like this.”
Understandable. I strode across the room, leaned down, and brushed my mouth against Kendra’s. “As you wish.”
She melted against me, a soft sigh brushing against my throat. “That’s my favorite movie, you know.”
“What is?”
“The Princess Bride. As you wish.”
“I’m ashamed to admit, I’ve never seen it.”
She pushed back from me, her eyes wide and unblinking. “What?”
The look on her face was priceless. Akin to what I imagined someone would look like if I’d admitted to being a serial killer. I shrugged. “It’s a romance.”
“It’s—you—but—” She stumbled over her words, then shook her head. “It’s more than a romance, you silly man! There’s murder, pirates, torture, death…”
“Huh. That doesn’t sound too bad.”
“You men,” she said, laughing. “Just because there’s a little kissing, you shy away.”
“I didn’t shy away last night,” I reminded her.
A blush spread across her cheeks. “Fine. Well, first thing we’re doing when we get home is cuddling in bed and watching The Princess Bride.”
I caught her gaze, a wave of happiness crashing through me. I didn’t want to push her. I knew of her past, of the tragic end to her last relationship. But I definitely wanted her with me for the rest of our lives. Hearing her talk about us cuddling in bed after the cruise, I loved it.
“I mean—if that’s all right…” she stuttered.
“It’s more than all right,” I assured her, brushing a tender kiss against her throat. “I’m yours as long as you’ll have me.”
She licked her lips. “What if I want forever?”
My heart hammered between my ears. “Do you?”
“I…don’t know. Is that all right? It’s so fast, but I feel a deep connection to you. It’s different than with…” She cleared her throat. “But it’s incredibly strong. I feel like I’ve always known you.”
I smiled gently. “Take as long you need to make up your mind. I’m not going anywhere.”
Relief rounded her shoulders. “Thank you. Seriously.”
“Now, about shopping.”
“I should message Brittany. She’ll be waiting to hear from me.” Kendra searched the floor for her clothes and extracted her phone. I watched as she typed out a quick message, then as a radiant grin spread across her face. “She’s excited. She says she’ll meet us here in an hour.”
“An hour, hey?” This time, I waggled my brows at her. “There’s so much we can do in an hour.”
Kendra giggled and dashed toward the bed, bouncing once on the mattress.
Oh, yes, I intended to keep her.
15
Kendra
The next few days passed in a happy blur. Whenever Leo and I weren’t fooling around in bed, we wandered the ship and hung out with my sister. Leo and I had taken her shopping in Honolulu two days ago, and I’d been pleasantly surprised to see how well they got along. Though Brittany tended to lose her mind to fanciful ideas, Leo took it all in stride. At one point, I’d realized she treated him like a big brother, teasing and wrestling with him—not that he minded. It’d warmed my heart, knowing someone in my family liked him.
After Honolulu, we’d ventured to Waimea Canyon in Kauai. I’d never thought I’d see anything that rivalled the Grand Canyon, but Waimea had certainly given it a run for its money. Not only did we get to enjoy the spectacular views, but also a lava tube, which happened to release a massive spurt of water.
After Kauai, we’d docked in Maui, where Leo had finally managed to spend some time in the water. No surfing, but we’d still had an amazing time snorkeling off the coastline, a few miles from a volcanic cinder cone that was now a Marine Life Conservation area. Someone in our group had claimed to have spotted a whitetip shark, which had sent me scrambling back to the boat. Brittany and Leo, amused by my antics, had remained in the water in an attempt to assure me there was no danger, but no way in hell I’d tempt fate. Not when life had finally taken a pleasant turn.
Each night, the three of us dined together and enjoyed a few cocktails, beautiful ocean breezes, and starry nights before Leo and I snuck back to his room. Brittany had assured me more than once that she didn’t mind. I suspected she’d found herself her own little playmate to bunk with, judging by the rosy color in her cheeks every morning.
But with the Hawaiian portion of the cruise finished, it was time to kick off the Halloween festivities while sailing home. Tomorrow was Halloween, so the air was rife with excitement. The festival would begin at eleven a.m., followed by a dance later that night. Throughout the day, every shop and restaurant would have treats available for those who wanted to engage in a little trick-or-treating. And for those who didn’t want to attend the dance, the theater intended to host a ‘creature feature’ movie night.
All in all, this cruise had been exactly what I’d needed, and I never wanted it to end. To go home meant returning to a life I no longer wanted. Brittany had been right when she’d suggested I move out of the cabin. I’d been clinging to Daniel so hard, I hadn’t let myself live. And now, the thought of returning there…I felt a weight pressing down on my shoulders again.
“You’re so serious over there,” Leo murmured, brushing my hair back from my face.
I blinked away my gloomy thoughts and smiled at him. It was peaceful here on his balcony. I didn’t want to ruin this moment by bringing up my troubles. Primarily, that I was homeless. I couldn’t go back there. I saw it now. Daniel’s cabin was a dark pit of despair I never wanted to step foot within again. It wasn’t that I wanted to forget our life together, more like I didn’t want it to drag me down any longer. I saw a new life forming right before my eyes. One with Leo, if he wanted me. It was hard to say after the short amount of time we’d spent together, but I knew I wanted to give it a try.
“Do you want to tell me what you’re thinking about?” he asked.
I contemplated his question. I liked that he hadn’t pushed, hadn’t insisted that I tell him what was going on. He’d asked instead of demanding, which encouraged me to open up to him.
“I do,” I told him. “Bu
t I don’t want to scare you off.”
He gave my hand a reassuring squeeze but didn’t say another word. His way of giving me space if I needed it. I loved that about him—his unwavering patience.
“I don’t want to go home,” I finally said.
“Mm, me neither. It’s so quiet out here. Just the two of us and the moon. I could stay here forever.”
“That’s not what I mean.”
He raised a curious brow.
“I don’t want to go home. To the cabin.”
“Ah.”
“Is it wrong that I feel that way? That I want to put it all behind me?”
“No, it’s not wrong. You have to do what’s right for you. And if that means moving out of the cabin, so be it. The choice has to be yours, though. No one else can make it for you.”
I nodded. I already knew all that, of course. But there was something reassuring about hearing another person say it.
“The thing is…I don’t want to return to my pack, either.”
“You don’t?”
I stared over the railing and out to sea. Easier to speak the words aloud when I wasn’t looking at someone. “I feel like I don’t belong there anymore. And I can’t accept Benjamin as my alpha. I won’t. Truthfully, I’ve never felt overly connected to my pack. Most of my life was spent avoiding them. It wasn’t until Daniel came and fixed the pack that I started to get to know them. After he died, I never felt the need to reach out to them. And my parents… My mother is the most selfish woman I know, and my father lets her get away with it. The only person I’d truly miss is Brittany. But I can’t let our relationship dictate my life.”
Leo rubbed his thumb against the back of my knuckles. “Where would you want to go then?”
And this was the terrifying part. What if I scared him? What if he ran? Could I handle that heartbreak? Deep down, I knew I could. I’d handled a lot worse than rejection. But losing Leo would hurt like hell. The thought of it robbed me of breath.