Red's Wolf

by Piper J. Drake

  "We sort of left things unfinished, didn't we?" She looked him over, seeing some bruises rising up on the skin of his arms and a little blood spattered across his flannel shirt. He didn't seem badly injured but she couldn't be sure. "Did Bradley hurt you?"

  Snorting, he jerked his head in the negative. "That mangy wolf? He needs a couple more years and a hell of a lot more training to take me."

  "So you won." She understood what winning meant. Her emotions crashed in the roller coaster ride of the day. Hope and excitement rushed up, swelling her heart until she thought it might burst. But she hesitated. Had he changed his mind? "So why are you here? Why didn't you come back?"

  His grey eyes turned stormy as he looked down on her. "I'm a lone wolf, Red. I don't have anything to offer you."

  "Did I ask for anything?" She sounded sad even to her own ears and wondered where her anger had leaked away to. His mouth twisted and his throat jump as he swallowed. Every muscle in him tensed, wound up as if he strained for control.

  "You need to leave, Red."

  "No." She shifted so she had at least one foot in the room beyond the doorway. Quickly unfastening her red coat, she threw it into the room knowing he wouldn't send her back out into the cold without it.

  His eyes dropped to observe her stance and then shot back up to her face, his gaze sharpening with a different kind of storm brewing. He bared his teeth at her, but she felt no fear. She could sense it, the difference in the way he was with her. He didn’t treat her like an opponent—he fought himself in front of her.

  "Leave or I won't be sending you home tonight." Emotion strangled his voice, his hands clenched on the side of the door until his knuckles showed white.

  Excitement zinged through her. "Then I won't go home tonight." She stepped past him as he gave way, sliding through the doorway to stand with her back against the wall. His eyes flowed into silver as he shut the door next to her very carefully. He moved with the fluid grace of a predator, intent on her, looming over her as he placed his hands on the wall at either side of her head.

  "You should have gone." His voice almost a snarl, but he lowered his head to her slowly, giving her time to escape.

  Escape was absolutely not what she had in mind. Carri tilted her face up, meeting him. Their lips brushed lightly with searing heat, and she heard him groan before he ducked his head lower and closed his teeth on the place where her neck joined her shoulder. No pain, only the feel of his teeth against her skin, hard enough to make her pulse pound in her veins.

  He pressed his body against hers, pinning her to the wall. He bent his knees to fit against her, grinding his hips into hers. The rock hard length of him strained inside his jeans, pressing against her abdomen. Squirming in response as a rush of wet heat surged between her thighs, she gripped the waist of his jeans trying to pull him even closer.

  His hands slid down the wall to cup her face as he captured her mouth, settling his lips against hers, his tongue teasing her in long slow sweeps as he explored her. Just as she thought she’d drown, he eased back, inviting her to come to him, leading her into a dance of body and heart.

  "Jason." She barely recognized the plea in her own voice, the husky sensuality. Never, ever before had any man ignited anything close to this within her.

  In answer, he settled his mouth over hers again, stealing her breath and giving it back to her. His hands trailed down the sides of her neck and the front of her breasts, his knuckles brushing past her nipples before he slid his palms over her waist and around to grasp the curve of her behind. He squeezed once, firm and sure, then shifted for a better grip and startled a yelp out of her as he lifted her.

  He encouraged her to wrap her legs around him as he continued to drift kisses across her mouth and jaw. Effortlessly, he strode through the living room and into the bedroom beyond, kissing her the whole way. He laid her down on the bed and pressed the length of his body into her as she gripped his shoulders and let her head fall back.

  "Mine." A statement, a fact, and she didn't refute his claim as he raked his teeth against her bared throat. She only gasped as his hands roamed over her body, stroking and finding sensitive spots at her sides and along the insides of her arms, his hands strong and rough yet gentle against her skin.

  When he stood, she sat up too, watching him as he stripped off his shirt and then his jeans. Muscles rippled under his winter pale skin, his chest lightly covered in a dusting of dark curls angling into a thin trail down his sculpted abdomen. The hard length of his sex, barely held by his underwear, sprung free as he slid them off. She dragged her eyes back up his incredible body, locking on silver eyes as they watched her watching him.

  "Off." He made the command something so sexy; she didn't even think to argue. She only lifted her arms so he could pull her layered shirt and t-shirt over her head. As soon as he tossed them aside, he kissed her again. There was a snap and her bra fell loose around her shoulders, to be pulled free of her arms and tossed away somewhere. Then he gripped her breasts in a firm, possessive hold. She gasped for air as excitement built and he dropped his head, taking one nipple into the moist heat of his mouth. Every hot tug on her nipple shot pleasure through her, driving her insane as she arched her back and clutched at his bare shoulders.

  He used one arm to support her as he eased her back on the bed, suckling her breast as he did. She lost her mind in the sensations he caused as his hands returned to her breasts, kneading and squeezing, his mouth sucking at one nipple and then the other. Her thighs clenched against the sides of his torso as she writhed under him, and she buried her hands in his hair.

  "Easy, Red." He murmured the words as he left her breasts to kiss his way down the curved plane of her stomach, pausing to flick his tongue against her navel. A slight tug as he undid her jeans and she lifted her hips as he peeled them down her legs, pulling off her shoes too as he yanked them the rest of the way. "This is just the beginning."

  His hands caressed her as he kissed his way from her ankles to her inner thighs. His breath hot between her legs, she tensed, barely coherent. "Just the… Oh!"

  A very masculine chuckle answered her as those marvelous hands gripped her bottom again, squeezing, encouraging her hips to lift as her legs draped over his shoulders. "As nice as these are they're in the way."

  A momentary sharpness touched her hip, and then her red lace panties fell away.

  "Did you shred my panties?" She gasped, not sure if she’d seen the claws at his fingertips.

  "No." He nibbled at the inside of her thigh. "I only sliced the side."

  She jumped as his mouth brushed over her, tickling, but his hands held her and soothed at the same time. She wanted to be mad about her underwear, but this was new for her and the anticipation alone tightened the muscles between her thighs. And then his tongue slid along the seam of her slit and she let out another yelp.

  "You are a very bad wolf." She'd meant to sound assertive, but it came out as a gasp.

  He chuckled again, licking deeper this time, sliding his tongue between her hot folds. "And I'm about to eat you."

  He used one hand to grip the inside of her thigh as he used the fingers of the other to part her folds, giving his clever tongue better access. She couldn't stop moaning as his tongue drove her wild. He licked and probed, feasting on her as she twisted and writhed. The tip of his tongue explored every crease before he found the tiny peak of her sex, circling and teasing then probing deeper and lower. The pleasure of it built, pooling low in her belly.

  "Please, Jason. Please...I..."

  But his mouth hadn't finished the exquisite torture. His lips clamped over the tiny nub, tonguing and sucking as his finger entered her. All the pleasure spilled over in a wave, driving her out of her mind and tumbling her over and over as her inner muscles convulsed.

  Trembling, she gasped for breath in the aftermath of her orgasm, wondering if she had any words. But he didn't give her time to regain her wits. His mouth began doing things to her again that had to be illegal. His ha
nds kneaded her bottom until she rode another crest of sensual pleasure, her hands balling up the comforter, clutching in an effort to anchor herself.

  He teased her with his tongue, grazed her with his teeth, suckled and nipped. When she thought she might curse in frustration, he slid a finger inside her again, pumping until he wrenched a husky moan from her throat. He stroked her as he pushed her thighs wide and rose up, kissing his way up until he captured her mouth again. Savaging her mouth in a deep kiss, he had her straining to be closer to him. She wanted, needed him to take her, fill her.

  His hand slid away from between her thighs, leaving her slick and ready, and he moved until he nudged the tip of his erection at her entrance. His head dropped to her shoulder, and she heard his ragged breath, realized he was reaching for control. Even in this, he wouldn't risk hurting her.

  "Now." She needed him so much, if he didn't bury himself in her right then, she was going to...

  Her thoughts scattered as he pushed inside her in a slow, thick slide. He stretched her, filling her until he touched places no one ever touched before. Her muscles convulsed around him, embracing his satin-hard length and she groaned.

  So good, he fit her so well.

  He leaned over her, his eyes silver-bright and fastened on her in the most intimate, erotic gaze she’d ever seen. Holding still, sheathed inside her, he waited until their heartbeats synchronized.

  "Ready, Carri?" His voice husky, rough in her ear.

  She nodded, nipped at his ear. "Yes."

  He took her mouth again, ravaging her with tongue and teeth until she hungrily fed from his kiss. And then he pulled out and slid back in, filling her with ever deepening thrusts until her world narrowed to his eyes on her and the feel of him moving inside her. Every heavy stroke drove her further and further, riding wave after wave of pleasure, until she clutched his muscular back and arched to meet him.

  “Come for me, Red.”

  She came again, calling out, her cry muffled against his shoulder as her body contracted around his sex.

  Growling, he set his teeth against her shoulder and drove into her one last time, throbbing as her tightening muscles milked him into his own climax deep inside her.

  4

  Hardly daring to believe the reality he lay in, Jason smoothed a soft golden curl from the curve of Carri's cheek as she slept, tucked against him. Even as he stroked his hand over the creamy silken shoulder, he marveled at how soft her skin felt, how delicate. Even as she slept, she was so incredibly vibrant to his eyes, from the gold of her hair to the luminescence of her skin and the sweet curve of her lips.

  If he had known it would be this good between them, he would never have waited as long as he had. But something inside him had hesitated, afraid, and it remained hovering beyond the euphoria of their lovemaking.

  The bedroom had only one window, and through a slit in the shades he could see snow falling. She wouldn’t be leaving any time soon, even if she did wake up. The snow fell heavy outside, covering everything in a thick blanket muffling the world.

  Just after she had fallen asleep, her head pillowed against his arm, Jason reached for his comm unit and sent a text-only message to Ben and Jenna to let them know her location. The alphas wouldn't come after her, wouldn't protest. They would never have let Carri arrive at Jason's alone if they hadn't backed off and respected her choice.

  But Ben's words sat heavy in Jason's heart, and they had the weight of truth to them. He had so little to offer her.

  "Mmm." She stirred in his arms, turning to face him and snuggling into his shoulder. Her lips press a soft kiss into his skin. "Hey you."

  "What is it, Red?" He wasn't a tender man, not soft, but somehow a thread of both emerged in his voice just for her. And she smiled for him, her eyes still closed.

  God, but he loved her smile.

  "Sleepy time." She murmured and sighed. "You should sleep, too."

  "You sleep. I'll watch over you." He wanted to, wanted to think more as he drank in the sight of her, listened to her steady heartbeat and breathing.

  But she didn't fall back to sleep, blinking slowly as the brilliant blue of her eyes cleared, and sought his face. "You're brooding."

  "That a problem?" No denying it.

  Sweet lips pursed and she wrinkled her nose in a cute expression, making him drop a kiss on it. "You're always moody, but you could relax for a little while at least."

  "Got a lot on my mind."

  She stretched up and nuzzled his jaw. "Talk to me about it."

  Jason hesitated. She’d go home, reality, not just home to Ben and Jenna but home to the city. She had a pack and her human family, places where she had roots and history. Not worth talking about; he had nothing to offer her, not a pack and not a home.

  Hell, with the hunters out there, he couldn't even promise her safety. What could he give her, anyway? A life of traveling, on the move and out in the open? He wouldn't be able to protect her the way a strong pack could.

  "Hello? You're far away. Come back." Her voice light and teasing, coaxing his attention back to her.

  "For a little while." He conceded. The sensor arrays would take another week or so to complete testing and installation. He could savor the time he had with her.

  "Only a little while?" Her tone shifted, more alert.

  He nodded, tucking her head under his chin and running his hand over the sweep of her back in long, soothing strokes.

  But, of course, her sharp intelligence engaged. Her edge had made his days a strange mixture of irritation and fun, new somehow because working with her interested him more than anything in years.

  She struggled out of his embrace, propping herself up on one elbow with the sheets bunched in one hand over her breasts.

  He lifted an eyebrow at her. "It's a little late for modesty, don't you think?"

  "Is this for a little while?" She’d definitely focused, like a hound on a scent trail.

  "For as long as you're here." He gave her reality, even though he wanted much more.

  A complex set of expressions passed over her face, her eyes turning sad and tear bright. "I...I thought this was more than a couple of nights."

  "Hey." He couldn't stand the sight of tears welling up in her eyes. It tore something in him to see them. He leaned over her to kiss them away, the salty sweetness dissolving on his tongue. "This is the time we have. We'll make it good."

  "But what happens after that?" A good question.

  "You go home." It about killed him to say the words. "And I go on, someplace else."

  "Where?"

  He shrugged, his mouth twisting in a rueful grin. "Wherever. I don't have a specific place to go to after every job. I just travel from place to place, pack to pack, wherever the next job takes me."

  "Don't you ever want a place to call home?" Such warmth, so much caring in her voice. It cut into his soul, mostly because he knew it wasn't about wanting.

  "You've seen the pack, Red. Any pack would be the same. Lone wolves are alone for a reason, and the packs don't usually ask why. You're pack or you're not. If you're not, there's no place for you to call home."

  "There are other packs," she insisted. And she spoke the truth. The majority of the continent was broken into territories, governed by the strongest shapeshifter pack or pride in the area. He’d worked for several in the mountains, both wolf and big cat. He’d even taken on a few contracts for some of the non-predatory groups living on those territories.

  But none of them welcomed outsiders. "It's not so easy, Red. You can't just walk into a pack and ask to become a part of the club."

  "What can you do, then?"

  Jason's temper flared. What did she want from him? "Look to the alphas of every pack or pride for those decisions. Lone wolves like me; we're a threat, an unknown danger. There's no trust because we're outside pack law. No one wants to take a chance that we might turn on them."

  "I'm here." She said it quietly, and his temper only scraped raw at her words. "I want to be with you
."

  "You shouldn't." He told her, his words gruff as he rose up out of bed. "You shouldn't even be here. You deserve better."

  "Wait." Confused, bewildered, she called after him. "Where are you going?"

  But he strode naked out of the bedroom, across the sitting area and to the front door. Once he passed through, he shut the door behind him and faced the cold outside.

  Shifting to wolf form, he ran into the forest and away from his own thoughts.

  Frozen with shock as she stared out the bedroom at the front door, Carri couldn't believe he'd left. A heartbeat, then another, and she gathered a couple of brain cells together and fired them up, scrambling out of the bed and pulling on her clothes as quickly as she could.

  She was not about to let him stomp off in a temper.

  Her comm chimed as she pulled on her shoes. She touch-signaled it to audio only, connecting the call from Jenna. "Hello?"

  "Carri?" Jenna's voice sounded calm and mildly curious, not a surprise considering the lack of visuals.

  "Jenna, is it just me or do I spend most of my time fighting with or chasing down this hard-headed male?" Even exasperated, she worried too. Jason's concerns had justification, but the more she knew him, the more convinced she became he wasn't a lone wolf because he wanted to be.

  "Well, dear, I guessed something hard might come into play, but I assumed you would have taken care of that."

  Carri blushed. "Jenna!"

  "Oh, we talking about his temperament, then?"

  "Yes." Carri snatched up her comm as she headed for the front door. "I more than took care of any other context."

  "So why do you not sound happy?" Jenna seemed unconcerned, but Carri knew better.

  "Because he's got it into his head, the one he thinks with most of the time, that I deserve better and what's between us is a nice distraction for the next couple of days." And that pushed buttons with her. She'd never been someone to treat intimacy lightly, especially not when something between them burned so hot or so deep.