by Riley Storm
She nodded. “Okay.” Her eyes didn’t close.
“Um, eyes closed,” he reminded her.
“What if I don’t want to?” she asked quietly, looking directly at him, barely able to breathe as she awaited his response.
24
“Are you sure?” he asked cautiously, not moving. Not daring to move.
Could this really be happening? It had been incredibly hard for him to resist Alison, especially after having come so tantalizingly close before. It may have only been twenty-four hours, but it felt like so much longer. To be so close to his mate, then to be dragged away from her for six long months, only to then be back at her side, was playing hell with his desires.
But those aren’t all that matter here. This isn’t about me. It’s about us. I hope.
“I think,” Alison started to say, before checking herself. “Yes. I am.”
Lucien lifted his eyebrows in an unspoken question. That hadn’t been the emphatic response he’d been hoping for. If she was only saying it because he was here, naked, and she thought it ideal timing, then he wasn’t about to let her go forward. This had to be because she wanted him, not just sex.
“I’m allowed to be nervous, Lucien,” she countered. “I told you, I’ve only ever done this once before. It wasn’t good. You can be certain you want something, and scared about it, all at the same time.”
Nodding, he took his time, watching her face, her eyes, staring into them, giving her an opportunity to really think about what she was doing here, and to back out if she wanted. He didn’t want it.
Even dressed in oversized, damp sweatpants, her hair a limp mess of thick black tresses, she was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.
It started with the corners of her golden-brown eyes, shaded by the faintness of her eyebrows. Every time she looked at him, they crinkled just a little bit as her face lit up. It was something he looked forward to every time he saw her, even if it was mere seconds from the last. He could stare at her forever.
His eyes moved down over her dainty little nose, a feature almost at odds with the general thickness of the rest of her. Lucien was well aware she didn’t think it suited her, but he thought it was the perfect complement to her mouth. Big, full lips, and a set of expressions that moved so much, she would never be able to play poker, ever. Not that he minded. It was that expressiveness that drew him in. Made him want to kiss it.
And everywhere else.
“You know,” she said almost conversationally, though the desire writ upon that face said otherwise, “I’ve never imagined what having sex with a werewolf would be like.”
“Wolf shifter,” he corrected. “It’s an important distinction to me. Us.”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” Alison apologized, reaching out to lay a hand on his shoulder. Then her face turned wry and she smiled. “Is there any way I can make it up to you?”
Lucien stifled what might normally have been a roar of laughter at her attempt at a lewd comment, mainly because he was watching her eyes run south on his body, until they reached his upraised knee, which was blocking her vision.
“I can think of a few things,” he answered in a playful tone, resting his own hand on her inner thigh before dragging it up several inches.
Alison’s mouth dropped open at the sudden touch, but she didn’t stop him. Her legs spread slightly, inviting him in further. Not for the first time, he marveled at how gorgeous she was, and tried to fight aside the disbelief that she was his mate.
How did I get so lucky? I haven’t done anything to deserve someone like this!
Yet here she was, inviting him into the most intimate of dances. Him.
Lucien jumped slightly in surprise as Alison took his knee and slowly put pressure on it, forcing him to spin until he faced her head on. Her eyes immediately darted downward, between his legs, and a very male flash of satisfaction went through him as her eyes went wide.
“Oh,” she said in a very small voice.
“Come on,” he laughed, taking her hands and standing up. “The kitchen isn’t the place for this.”
“Okay, but I’m not wearing this into the bedroom,” Alison said, slipping her arms into her sweatshirt.
“Here,” he offered, moving quickly to take the clothes from her body, admiring every curve and dip as he removed each article one at a time, until she too was naked in front of him.
The sight of it left him speechless, licking his lips as they went dry. She was gorgeous, a woman’s body that had him hard, straining to be between her legs, to pleasure her to the best of his abilities.
“I take it you like what you see?” Alison giggled, wrapping one hand around his shaft, giving it a gentle squeeze.
Lucien groaned at her touch, shaking slightly while he took a second to regain control.
“I’ll take that as a yes,” his mate continued in a softer, throatier voice as she stepped close.
“Very much so,” he growled, running both hands down her back until his palms were filled with her cheeks, which he gripped hard. It felt so good!
Alison pressed herself into him, nibbling at his neck, soft, pleasing moans reaching his ear as he explored her body with his hands, every part of her feeling tiny to his touch. For her part, her fingers stayed wrapped around him, gently moving up and down.
It wasn’t long before both of them were panting, ready and in need of something more. Something that standing in the kitchen simply couldn’t provide. Lucien snatched up his mate and carried her to the bedroom, where he deposited her somewhat roughly on the bed and climbed on top, kissing her, his pent-up desire pouring forth.
Alison eagerly rocked back and into him, clawing at him with fingernails, legs spread wide, inviting him inward. It was so painfully tempting to simply place himself against her and slide in deep, but Lucien recalled that she wasn’t used to this, that she was essentially inexperienced. If he did that, he would hurt her, and that was unacceptable.
In a rush, he slid down her body, covering her with kisses as he went. Spurred on by her moans and the writhing of her body, he placed himself between her legs. The instant his tongue slid out and across her, she hissed and tightened around him. Lucien didn’t relent, and in moments, his mate relaxed, opening herself up to the sensations.
A few minutes later, she shuddered violently and called out his name, the fingers of one hand clutching at his head. Lucien just grinned and kept pleasuring her, glancing up to take in the expressions on her face, something that drove him absolutely wild. He loved to give, and seeing his mate clench up, her face grow taut, and then go slack a second time as he made her orgasm yet again was near the ultimate aphrodisiac.
“Okay,” she gasped, pushing him away. “Okay. Holy shit. I can’t see straight.”
He laughed to himself, wiping his face and sitting up on his knees, drinking in the sight of this gorgeous woman, red flush from her cheeks down her neck and even partway onto her collarbone. It was the most arousing sight he’d ever seen, and Lucien throbbed.
“You’re dripping,” she said, reaching out to run a finger along his tip, then tasting him while he watched.
Lucien almost exploded at that.
“I’m ready,” she pronounced at last, looking up at him with big, round eyes. “Please.”
Never one to deny a polite request, he lined himself up with her opening, feeling as her wetness slipped over him with ease. Alison’s eyes popped open as he entered her, and she gasped, gripping his biceps tightly as shiver after shiver wracked her entire body.
For his part, he had to fight to control himself. Not just from plunging in deep, but from losing control. He was so aroused at the visual sight before him, and the knowledge that he was finally, at long last, lying with his mate, that it took all his self-control not to release right away.
When he finally slid in all the way, it was almost like a relief. He’d made it without embarrassing himself in front of her. Now he could sit back and pleasure her to the best of his abilities.
“You feel so good,” she whispered in his ear, tugging on the lobe with her teeth.
Lucien shivered. That felt good. Really good. “Again,” he growled, turning his head, exposing his ear. How had he never realized this was a thing with him?
It had to be Alison. Something about her, about his mate, that made him enjoy it. Whatever it was, it was driving him crazy.
Without thinking, he pulled his hips back and then pushed back inside her. Alison gasped and cried out right into his ear, telling him to do that again. And again.
They crashed into one another harder than he would have wanted, considering her relative lack of experience, but she was the one urging him on, begging him, ordering him. They rolled onto their sides and he entered her from behind, grabbing her breasts and gently playing with her nipples.
Without asking permission, she slid a hand between her legs and while he watched her face, she brought herself to another climax.
“That was so hot,” he rumbled, burying his face in her neck, only rocking against her now instead of thrusting while she recovered. “I love watching you. You’re absolutely beautiful.”
Alison grinned weakly. “Thank you. You feel…I can’t even describe. This is so much better than I expected.”
Buffered by the compliment every male strives for, Lucien rolled his mate onto her back once more crawled atop her, their faces fractions of an inch apart. He wanted to see every twitch as he entered her.
“Are you close?” she asked as he slipped back inside.
“I can be. Why?”
“I’ve got one more I think,” she said with a laugh. “And that’s going to be it, I think. Can we…” she hesitated.
“What?”
Alison shook her head. “No, it’s silly.”
Taking a moment to watch her blush again, Lucien forced the question. “Just tell me,” he growled, kissing her neck. “We’re already naked. I’m inside of you. Nothing is silly.”
“Okay, fine,” she said, sighing, then moaning as he started to thrust against her, slowly at first, only moving an inch or so at a time. “I just…I’ve always had this fantasy. Can we, um, do you think like, maybe we could, both of us…”
“Come together?” he finished.
Alison bit her lip but nodded. “Yes.”
“I think so.” He thrust slightly harder. “Is that what you want?”
“Yes,” she gasped.
Lucien thrust again. And again, watching her face every time. “You want to come with me?” His voice was deep. Almost commanding.
“Oh God,” she cried quietly. “Yes, I want it. Please. I’m so close.”
Her hand slipped between her legs, eyes going wide. Lucien watched as she played with herself while he fucked her. Already he was struggling to hold on. The sensation of being inside her was one thing, but combine that with watching his mate touch herself, bring herself to orgasm while he was inside her, was too much.
He couldn’t hold on. “Alison,” he groaned, hips moving faster. “I can’t…”
“Please,” she cried. “I’m so close. I’m going to cum, Lucien.”
He lost control. The dam burst and with a roar, he spilled himself inside of her. Whether it was that or timing, Alison tightened and cried out, closing her eyes then opening wide.
They stared at one another, and Lucien etched that perfect image into his memory, a sight he knew would never leave him for as long as he lived.
Then, all too fast, it was over, and he all but collapsed onto her, both of them breathing heavily, completely and utterly spent.
“Oh,” Alison said in a very tiny voice as their breath started to return.
“That was…good,” he panted. “Really, really good.”
“Yup.” She giggled.
“What?”
“Um, we have a slight problem though.”
“I’ll get a towel from the bathroom,” he said, thinking she meant the mess. Nobody ever talked about cleanup.
“Not that,” she said with a laugh. “I meant, um, the smell.”
“Sex stinks,” he agreed, then sniffed at the air. “Oh.”
“Yeahhh.” She started laughing some more. “I think the, um, vigorousness, has stirred up some stuff we, uh, may have missed.”
By now Lucien was laughing as well. This had to be the weirdest, most unromantic thing, and yet…and yet they were both on the verge of crying tears of laughter because of it.
“Come on,” he rumbled, pulling himself off of her and then swiftly scooping her up. “Let’s go have a shower, shall we?”
Alison nodded. “Yes please. A real shower this time.”
He nodded, and walked toward the bathroom, his mate in his arms.
“Hey, question for you,” she said as the door closed behind them.
“Yes?”
“When you get out of the shower, do you smell like wet dog?”
25
The next morning didn’t start with birds chirping and the sun streaming in through the blinds. It didn’t start with a cold Bergey nose on her face. It didn’t start with sweet, gentle kisses from Lucien and the whisper of a breeze through the open summer window. No fresh smell of summer and the crinkle of linen.
It started with a horrendous crash of thunder that brought Alison bolt-upright with a start, fearful for her life. Blinking back the last vestige of sleep that was rapidly fading, she struggled to come to her senses.
A moment later, the dull patter of rain on the roof and a more distant rumble of thunder—still loud, but without the awful godlike hammer to it—told her that it was nothing more than a fierce morning spring storm.
Lying back in bed, she giggled at the racing of her heart. So similar to the night before, yet for very different reasons. She was still surprised at the sudden turn with Lucien.
Not to mention the fact that he’s a werewolf.
“Wolf-shifter,” she corrected herself verbally, saying the word in hopes it would stick over the more commonly known term.
That was something she was still coming to grips with. She’d had more than one dream over the course of the night about giant wolves of deepest black fur and yellow eyes. They should be the things of nightmares, but this was Lucien! He was…different.
A smile drifted across her face as she remembered just how different he was. There night had been…intense. Magical. Wondrous. All of the above.
Post-shower, he’d made a run back to the warehouse to deliver spare clothing and some of the other supplies stashed in the basement of the little house. It was too small to fit all of them, but the warehouse was a brand new safehouse that Lucien had acquired just the day before. He’d told her something about secret bank accounts and untraced funds, but truthfully, she’d still been reconciling the fact that he was a werewolf to pay much attention when he’d explained it later in the evening.
Also she’d been focused on more bedroom activities. Apparently, she hadn’t quite been as done as she’d made herself out to be the first time around.
Rolling over in bed, she felt a twinge of soreness between her legs. Yes, after the third round she had told him that was it. No more, otherwise she would be unable to walk in the morning. As it was turning out, she might still have struggles with that. Oh well.
Worth it.
Thunder cracked again, but this time, it did little more than make her twitch. Yawning, she fell back into the covers, letting them puff out around her. The bed was empty, despite Lucien having been in it when she fell asleep. He must be out in the main room. Stifling a yawn, she looked at the bedside alarm clock—something she hadn’t seen in a long time.
It was already ten? Goodness. Maybe she should get up. See if Lucien had left any food for her and Bergey.
Pulling on clothes—clean ones—she headed for the door.
The sound of voices stopped her. Who else was there? Had something happened? It seemed unlikely that she would have slept through any confrontation with Lucien and another wolf shifter—she smiled at getting the ter
m right finally—but weirder things had happened.
Leaning forward, Alison opened her ears as best she could, listening in to the conversation coming from outside. The house was so small, it wasn’t exactly far from the door to the living room. In fact, they probably had heard her moving about.
“There has to be another way.”
That was Lucien, his voice easily identifiable to her by now. He sounded stressed. Bothered by something. Another way to do what? Curious, she listened closer.
“We’re not against that, Lucien,” said another voice she recognized. “But what else would you have us do? You recruited us for this mission. It’s what you say we need to do, and we’re here to help. Yet you won’t act on the easiest path.”
“I know, Chief,” Lucien responded. “Because I refuse to accept that there isn’t a better choice. One where we don’t have to go down that path.”
“I may be the youngest here.” That was Lorik, easily identifiable by the youthful pitch of his voice, lacking that truly deep manly timbre that both Lucien and Chief possessed. “But Lucien, I have to ask, if there is another path, what is it? None of us can come up with it. It seems you can’t either. We’re running out of time.”
“He’s right,” Lana said, her female voice a blunt switch from the others. “It’s been days now. We can’t push this for too much longer, and you know it. This is our best opportunity. We need to make do with what we have. Perhaps you’re just too close to the situation.”
Someone, Lucien probably, snorted, the sound wrought with sarcasm. “You think? Of course I’m close to it. Which is precisely why we’re going to find another way.”
Alison frowned. What the heck were they talking about? Too close to what situation?
It had to be about rescuing his friends. That was all he ever thought about or talked about, not that she blamed him. That didn’t make sense though. Like the others were saying, it was his plan. His mission. So why was he so reluctant to go forward with it now? She was obviously missing something.