Clayton (The Wildflower Series Book 1)

by Rachelle Mills

  “You’re very right, Mother.” He’s looking at me closely. Everywhere his eyes roam, I can feel them on my skin.

  “I’m happy that you are giving my son a chance to prove that he can be what you need. He’s a good wolf, Rya.” She gets up and presses her cheek against his. “We are very proud of him.”

  Dallas sits still, his emotions whirling inside him. He’s trying to clamp down on his feelings, not letting anyone see how her words affect him enough to shed a tear that doesn’t come out.

  “We should go, my male.” Standing, they walk toward the door.

  “Rya, consider my offer to you. My hand is always extended your way if you need to take hold of it. I can train you so your tail will never curl under. Imagine that, Rya, never having to be a turn tail to any other wolf besides my son.” A gleam in his eye twinkles out before he turns his back on us, closing the door.

  The next thing that Dallas does is walk toward where the blanket and pillow lay, picking them up so I don’t have to touch them. He opens the door, heads to the fire pit, and throws it in to be burned later.

  He’s brought a big bag with him. Opening it up, he unfolds his duvet that only smells like him. “I brought you this. Hope it’s okay? You can sleep with it now.” He sits himself on the couch with his feet up, legs spread.

  “Come here, Rya.” I do as he tells me.

  Making myself comfortable between his legs, I press my hurt jaw against his chest. Placing his blanket over the top of us, I lift my shirt up. He tickles my back; strong fingers with just an edge of nail grazes up and down the length of my exposed skin.

  It feels so good to just have caring hands on my hurt flesh. My body melts into his, as if it’s meant to be this way.

  “When you went to the clinic, did you tell him that you marked me?” His hands stop roaming skin.

  “Yes.” His voice drops low.

  “What did he say?” My breath holds in my throat.

  “He was conflicted. He understands what’s happening to you. It’s the wolf that doesn’t understand.”

  Chapter 21

  A Chance

  Saturday night turns to our Sunday morning.

  The air is chilly, yet inside the covers, it’s warm and comfy. His body is hotter than mine. Dallas stirs gently, the music of his breathing gentle against my neck. We’re cuddled in close, my thighs, knees, calves curving around his.

  His arm is around my waist, while his other arm is underneath the pillow we’re sharing. I run my fingertip over his braille vertical scar on his forearm. I feel the rise of the healed skin, the impression of the silver meeting flesh that will always leave its lasting mark.

  He tries to pull his arm away, but I won’t let him. Continuing to feel the scar, I bring it to my mouth, kissing it, running my tongue down its length. Once I’m done, he laces his fingers around mine as his thumb circles my own.

  “Good morning.” His voice is sleepy soft. His lips find the back of my neck, gentle and sweet.

  “Good morning,” I say back to him as I push myself closer. His hips press against my bottom, and he curves himself into my spine, his bicep flexing as his muscles shift his weight, so now I rest easily underneath his body, my back pressed down in my bed. His tongue teases flesh; desire pours heavily off his skin, mine leaking out and wetting my dark green panties that somehow have managed to stay on my body. Never once did he try to pull them down.

  His boxers remain on, the fabric getting wet from my body’s reaction to him. Nimble fingers trace just underneath my ribcage. It’s a slow rhythm he’s using with his hips, positioning himself between legs that part just a little more for him to keep the firm pressure against me. Rubbing, gliding as I close my eyes, biting down on my lower lip. Legs wrap around behind him just under his ass, heels digging in to press him into me more.

  Lips are touching where my moan is coming out of my throat. My excitement builds low in my belly.

  “I did promise that I would leave these on, didn’t I?” Those words are pressed against my mouth. He’s got his finger on the outside of my underwear, stroking a nail up and down on the fabric.

  Shivering in pleasure.

  “You said something like that.” My voice doesn’t sound like my own; it’s lower than normal. He teases the spot that wants to be touched the most.

  Eyes the color of light blue quartz regard me. They look as if they are getting lighter, like mine.

  His clawed nail pokes a hole into the thin material just under the waistband of my panties, a faint sound, almost as if scissors are cutting through the cloth. His nail pulls down, creating a slit in the fabric from front to back just under the bands holding them up.

  He slips a thick finger inside me, and my lips part in bliss.

  “We’ll keep them on like I promised.” He says this against the spot where he could mark me if he wants. His scent is changing into something more potent, more male. It urges my hormones on to kiss his skin, taste him with my tongue, nip with my teeth.

  In and out with the ease of a practiced musician, he plays my body like strings on a guitar, making me hum inside myself.

  He throws the covers off of us, and my smell swirls around the room, thick and heady. He looks down between my legs, parting them more, spreading me wider for his eyes to take everything in.

  “You’re mine, Rya.” His proclamation drives my wolf wild. I moan as he pushes his finger further inside me, but not all the way to tear my virtue.

  He leaves that intact.

  Dipping in and out, he playfully teases me.

  Sucking the skin on my neck, he lowers his body on the bed so he’s at my chest, capturing each mound in his mouth, twirling his tongue to elicit moans of pleasure from me. His finger never stops its perfect rhythm.

  He slowly moves down, kissing just under my ribs, pressing his nose into my soft belly, inhaling deeply. My hands fist into his hair as his fingers continue playing my melody that makes me sing out loud. Head thrown back slightly, I arch into his hand, wanting more that this male will bring to my body.

  I feel coltish nerves as he travels still lower down my body, my thighs quivering, trying to close together, but wanting to stay open.

  A sigh escapes out my open mouth as the first flick of tongue meets my most feminine part. He brings me into his mouth, tongue velvety good.

  Sucking me into him, as those fingers play inside me.

  On my own accord, I spread myself more for this epicurean savoring what I have to offer him. Nectar leaking out of me that he greedily laps up. He seems to be enjoying himself, judging by the vibrations from his chest I can feel through the mattress.

  Fire burns inside me like shredded kindling, burning hot and fast throughout my body.

  Another gasp from me draws his moans out. His one hand grips my pleading hip, trying to hold it down as I begin to squirm slightly, new intense pleasures taking hold inside me.

  Lifting his head up from between my legs, he just looks at me like I am the most beautiful thing he has ever seen. He’s feeling such desire it’s pounding the inside of my body like giant waves against a break wall.

  He’s also feeling very blessed.

  His head dips back down, devouring me like a connoisseur, tasting in the delight of me. I never realized how a tongue can give such pleasure, was made for pleasure.

  I close my eyes as it begins to be too much, natural instincts taking over. He keeps his fingers inside me as I start to squeeze and pulse around them. Toes curl as my body stops momentarily, paralyzed with a rush of deep, mind-blurring ecstasy. Moans escape my parted lips until my back arches, mouth opening partially while I give a moaning cry out.

  This is going to leave me quivering for days.

  Looking down after the waves subside, I have painted his shoulders, neck, and scalp with my claw marks that line his skin.

  The bedsheets are now embedded with our mixed scents. He nips at my inner thigh before placing a soft kiss to each leg. Another kiss is placed against the apex of my legs.


  Panties are in ruins, but they remain on, just like he promised.

  My breathing has yet to return as he trails kisses up my body, leaving little reminders he was there. My wetness saturates his boxers now as he rubs himself against me.

  Dallas looks at me as he grabs my hips, pressing himself against me, claiming my mouth in his. The feeling of his tongue sends shivers down my spine.

  I can taste myself on him.

  I never promised to keep his clothes on.

  Fingers hook into his waistband, pulling it down, freeing him from his confinement. My heart rate is working overtime.

  He’s breathing in my oxygen as I exhale. I breathe him in when he exhales. His back flexes with each movement, and my hands roam everywhere.

  His boxers are completely off. He’s just outside my parted thighs. Gliding back and forth between my folds, it’s slick with my excitement, and he’s hard with his.

  I catch his eyes with mine as we kiss, and my hand moves down his torso to his manhood. Going in between our legs, I try to grip around his girth firmly. My teeth bite into my lower lip, drawing just a trace of blood that I love. I can smell him getting more and more aroused, and it drives me to continue on.

  His breathing grows more intense as I work him up and down. My thumb glides over the tip, and his moistness starts to leak out. His eyes close with a moan. He lifts himself over the top of me, muscles in his arms hard with the strain of holding himself up. I bite into his bicep, and another hard moan tumbles from this male’s throat.

  His reaction to my touch encourages me that I am doing something right.

  “Lay on your back.” A whispered command in his ear has him doing what I say now.

  Straddling his lower legs, I watch his eyes traveling over my chest, down my belly, looking between my legs…that the torn material is showing exactly what I have.

  Nothing is left to the imagination.

  “Rya.” My name slips from his open mouth. It’s deeper than he usually speaks. More of a voice that others don’t get to hear.

  Looking at him, my eyes memorize every inch of him. My hand keeps its motion of up and down. I can feel his contour, exploring the skin with my closed palm. He gasps, grabbing onto my outer thighs with claws that hook into my skin. I want more from this male beneath me.

  A hard moan escapes from deep within his chest, and my insides start to quiver with the music he’s making. My curves press against muscles as I bend my head down, tracing him with my tongue. I’m tasting the tip of him. His essence is now on my taste buds; it’s salty, like nothing I have tasted before. He’s pulsating in my hand as my mouth closes around him.

  Taking him into my mouth, I let my tongue explore his ridge, sucking him up and down, letting teeth gently brush against sensitive skin.

  His body reacts, muscles contracting and relaxing, growling deep his appreciation of what I am doing to him. My ears perk up with how I can make him feel and sound.

  Gripping him firmly at the base, I twirl my tongue around him, exploring what I have never had before in my mouth. I think I give a gasp as I feel him pulse inside himself and groan out loud.

  The way I’m making him feel is addicting. I can live off this feeling, providing such pleasure for someone.

  His hips lift slightly as my mouth goes down on him, hands in my hair. His hips withdraw himself from me only to push back in. Cheeks suck in, creating a suction tight and moist.

  He’s looking at me the whole time, eyes wide, breathing shallow. It feels as if the energy around him is growing, getting sucked from the room and into him. What does he think as he’s watching me please him with my mouth?

  I let my tongue slide from the base to the tip while I watch him watch me. My teeth have slightly descended; I can see him looking at them as his start to make an appearance. His thighs are quivering now as he starts to thrust himself into my open mouth. His hand wraps into my hair, guiding me at his pace.

  With a quick movement, I’m pinned underneath him, and his teeth are at my neck. His hand replaces mine. He’s at my entrance, holding himself there still as a statue, teeth extended, holding me to him. He pushes very slightly inside me, so just the very tip rests at my entrance. He trembles his release, shuddering explosively inside, coating me with his scent.

  The very essence of who he is.

  Dallas’s fluid fills my insides up, leaking down my bare thighs, creating a wet spot on the sheets.

  “Rya, don’t move.” His voice is hard against my neck, his canines dimpling my skin, but not puncturing through. He could mark me now if he wanted to; I would be so easy to take.

  A groan from him has another fresh wave saturating my insides.

  His whole body is tense and rippling with his pleasure. We stay like this for a minute, breathing hard, while he gains control of himself.

  Dallas rolls to his side, bringing me with him, pressed against his chest.

  “I almost marked you, Rya. I almost lost my control.” Pressing his lips to the top of my head, my cheek is flush with his chest. My fingers trace the flesh of his back.

  How would I feel if he marked me? I’m conflicted. My wolf is full steam ahead; he’s a quality male. He is a provider of meat, very simple in her eyes. He’s already her male, no matter what the skin side thinks.

  “I think we need to talk about this.” He grabs the back of my hair, pulling my head back so he can look into my eyes.

  “I can feel your hesitance, Rya.” A shadow passes over his turquoise eyes. I love that color; it’s the only color of jewelry I wear. It compliments my eyes, so I’ve been told.

  “It’s a big step for me, Dallas.” This has to be as truthful as possible; I could never lie to him no matter how hard truth hurts.

  “I understand, Rya. It’s a big step. I just want you to know that I am having a hard time refraining from claiming you. I’m not sure what will happen with my mark on your neck, but inside I already feel as if you’re mine. I have been given a second chance, and I don’t want to waste this chance.”

  “I’m scared, Dallas. I’m afraid. I don’t know what to expect with all this. I feel a great attraction to you, my wolf has marked you as mine, but at the same time, I have this connection with Clayton that can’t be denied. I know he doesn’t want me. I know this in my brain. In my body, I feel him so deeply it consumes me when I’m near him. Yet at the same time, I can feel you inside me, not as powerful, but I feel your presence as well.” I look at his hurt eyes, his clenched jaw, his pain seeping out.

  “I understand, Rya. I know the pull you feel. I understand how consuming it is. I’ll fight for you. I will fight for the right to be your number one choice. I just need a chance to prove I can be that male for you.” His phone starts ringing, in his pants on my bedroom floor.

  Leaning over me, he answers it.

  “Aurora, what’s the matter?” He closes his eyes for a brief second. “I’m coming.” Getting off me, he pulls up his boxers.

  “It seems Cash is going to kill Clayton. Aurora is doing her best to keep him out, but Cash is very persistent.” His voice is filled with annoyance.

  Getting up, I change quickly. I need to see this for myself. We walk outside to the car. The sky looks washed out in grey. Maybe rain is coming, or maybe the first real snow. It’s crisp enough outside for that to happen.

  Pulling into the clinic parking lot, I see Kennedy sitting on the steps with her head in her hands, rocking back and forth crying. Cash is ramming the door open with his body, Aurora on the other side, using her body to block his path in. That big metal door is caving in with the power of his shoulder.

  Kennedy’s head angles up. She slowly stands, looking at me with death—not hatred, but with someone wanting to kill someone else.

  “Sit down!” Dallas’s authority has her stiffen. Slowly, she slinks back down into the same position she was in before. Her shoulders are tucked in slightly, head bowed.

  “Cash!” One word spoken in dominance makes Cash stop his next rus
h to the door.

  Cash’s turbulent eyes regard Dallas.

  Dallas regards Cash’s vicious violence by sneering his teeth at his brother.

  “What did I tell you, Cash?” Dallas takes a step toward his brother. Cash looks wild, feral to a certain degree as he angles his body to face his brother’s full wrath head on.

  “I’m going to kill that wolf.”

  “No, you’re not. He’s not yours to kill.” Kennedy’s tear-streaked face looks up toward Dallas, understanding crossing her face. She begins to stand up.

  “Sit down.” The quiet savageness from Dallas has Kennedy sitting still as a statue, not moving.

  Dallas snaps viciously toward Cash. The Alpha in Dallas is making my wolf uncontrollable. She’s trying to claw and scratch her way out to stand on his right with her back straight to give support to her male.

  “Rya, control yourself.” His voice pounds into my chest, making my fierce wolf whimper slightly.

  “Cash, stop now!” he roars. The few birds that stay for the winter have now taken to flight.

  Cash stills, shaking in his skin. I can see the way he tries to resist his brother’s voice, but he is no match for Dallas.

  “Cash, I thought I made a good choice when I asked you to be my Beta. Don’t make me regret that decision.” Dallas gives him a calm but murderous glare.

  “What happened?” Cash staggers back slightly.

  “She wouldn’t let me in.” He points his finger at the door.

  “Kennedy just keeps telling me how I won’t be enough for her.” He pounds his fist against the clinic door over and over again. His knuckles bleed, dripping on the steps that greet our patients. The effort he’s putting into her is commendable, but when do you decide you put your all into things or maybe it’s time just to walk away?