“From the moment I saw you with that redneck, I’ve never not wanted you.” He kissed her hair, making a note to ask how it still smelled like damned coconuts after being in the field. “For what it’s worth, Shane threatened to kick my ass.”
“Good.” She slid her hand along the arm wrapped around her waist. “They are pretty awesome.”
“Yet I’m the one you’re naked with.” That came out angrier than he intended, but thinking about her with any male was intolerable, but one of his packmates? Not just no, but hell no.
She spun, splashing water out of the tub as she straddled him. “If this is some kind of game or pissing match, I need you to leave.”
He settled his hands on her hips and leaned back against the white tile. “It’s not.” He closed his eyes and cursed. “I was jealous, okay? Every time I saw you with Jake, all I could see was how good the two of you would be together.”
“Because he’s black?”
She looked at Bryce like he’d lost his mind, which made him laugh. “No, because he makes you smile, and I all manage to do is hurt you.”
“Okay…” She pressed a hand against the center of his chest. “But to quote a wise captain: ‘Yet you’re the one I’m naked with.’”
“You scare the hell out of me.” He covered her hand with his own before raising it to kiss her knuckles. “But I’m yours if you’ll have me.”
The tender and shy smile was a bit wobbly, but she nodded. “You can be exasperating, but I think I’ll keep you for a little while.”
“Enough talking. Come here and kiss me, woman.”
Lucky for him, that was an order she chose to follow.
Chapter 10
Candy stood in her bedroom in front of the man she wanted more than air, gripping the towel he’d wrapped around her body.
“Changed your mind?” Bryce placed two fingers beneath her chin, raising it so her gaze met his.
The words, along with her bravado, must have circled down the drain. Lowering her gaze to the erection pointing at her like she was true north did not help. It wasn’t nightmare-inducing large, but it put her little vibrator to shame. Maybe she wasn’t quite ready.
“We can take this slow. We have all the time in the world.”
“No, Bryce.” She shook her head and looked back up at him. Oh dear, if she hadn’t already wanted Bryce, his words would have sealed the deal. “I’m losing you soon.” She released the towel, and it along with her inhibitions and doubts drifted to the floor.
“Damn, you’re beautiful.” He stood watching her for a few seconds then gently clasped her chin, forcing her to look at him.
“No, you’re the beautiful one.” She stepped close enough that her already erect nipples brushed against the short hairs on his chest.
His finger traced along her jawline, then across her cheek, and like a blind man, he ran his finger across her lower lip, pausing at the tiny scar from when she fell roller-skating. She needed… more. After waiting this long to punch her V-card, she wanted to get this show on the road. She parted her lips and wrapped them around his finger, sucking gently before biting down.
“You’re killing me,” he whispered as he wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her closer. “But I’m not complaining, because I can’t think of a better way to go.” He removed his finger from her mouth and traced around her dark nipple, before carrying her to the bed.
As her back touched the sheets, he stared down at her, not her body, but her face. In that split second, she knew this was not just about sex, not about the meeting of two bodies, but them as people. Their time together as man and woman, as lovers, wouldn’t be long, but she knew that they would both be changed.
Or at least she would be.
No. She wasn’t going to do that. She wasn’t going to think about what it would be like when he left, because that’s how these things always ended.
“Stop thinking.” He placed a finger to her lips. “Just feel.” He lay above her, placing his weight on his elbows.
“Right now, I’m feeling too much.” She cupped his soft five o’clock shadow.
“It will never be too much, not with us, ever.” He sucked on her lower lip, releasing it with a pop, before he rose and looked down at her with wide eyes. “Please tell me that you have condoms.” He grimaced when she took her time answering.
“Oh…” Poor thing, he looked like someone had taken his favorite toy. He was stricken, but the erection pressing against her let her know he remained interested. She giggled, kinda wishing she was a bit more heartless. “Of course I do. You should see your face.”
How could she have thought him stoic? He glared at her, then with that freaky quickness, he moved lower, covering her large areola and nipple with his warm mouth. The giggling stopped, and she cupped the back of his head, moaning when he clasped her nipple between his teeth. He lathed his tongue across the tender bud, and she gripped the back of his head, never wanting him to stop.
When he peered up at her, the bastard looked way too cocky. “What else do you like? I’m going to eventually get to it, but let’s save some time.”
“I know what brings me the most pleasure when I touch myself.” She wanted to look away. She needed to do anything but feel like a freak. “Because I’m the only person who’s done it.”
He didn’t say anything, just blinked.
“Should I grab the smelling salts, or take your pulse or something? You’re kind of making me self-conscious.” This was a close-up version of deer in the headlights. “Okay… that didn’t go well. I probably should’ve told you before we got naked.”
“Stop talking.” He curled his fingers in her hair and tugged her head back. “It’s none of my business, but why? Why me, why now?”
“Really? We’re going to have this conversation? Because I’m naked, I’m here, and I am pretty much a sure thing.”
“Yes, I do want to know.” He shifted his hips, pressing his length against her labia. “And I sure as fuck want to have this conversation.” He kissed her forehead. “For once, how about you not argue?” His lips pressed together again, but this time his eyes danced as he did it.
“Maybe.” She exhaled. “Since I’m new to this whole sex game, do you usually talk this much in bed?”
“No. I usually don’t take virgins to bed either.” He leaned down and kissed her—hard. “Looks like we’re both breaking rules tonight.”
“Fine. I’ve been busy, and uninterested.” She relaxed a little. He made it no big deal. Maybe it wasn’t anything to be ashamed of at all. “Plus, the men I hung out with seemed to fall into two camps. Either they wanted a virgin as a trophy, or they avoided virgins like the plague.”
“Good enough.” He wiggled his eyebrows. “About those condoms…”
She couldn’t help it, she grinned at him. Because holy hell, this was really going to happen. And it was going to happen with the sexiest man she’d ever met. She pointed to the nightstand on the left-hand side of the bed. “Top drawer.”
He rolled off her and opened the drawer. “Well, isn’t this interesting? My little virgin isn’t quite the innocent.”
“Just kill me now.” She threw her arm over her eyes and groaned. Of course, the vibrator was in the drawer with the condoms.
“Hey.” Bryce tugged at her arm, and she turned her face away from him. “Look at me. No shame.” His gaze grew heavy and his eyes darkened with his wicked half smile. “I think it’s hot as hell.”
His lips met hers again, and wow. Not that she hadn’t enjoyed each of their previous encounters, but he’d been holding back. As his hand skimmed her body, she may as well have been kindling, because her body ignited.
The kiss ended, and he rubbed his whiskered cheek against hers and whispered in her ear. “I’ve said it a couple of times, but I need you to truly hear me. When I return to California, there’s still an us.”
“Are you telling me or asking?” She held him tight, wanting to believe, but fearful.
“
Telling.” He sucked on her earlobe.
“Every man I’ve ever cared about has abandoned me.” That sounded so pathetic, and unsexy, but since he kept wanting to talk instead of doing the horizontal mambo, so be it.
“Never.” He rose above her, the vow clear in his eyes.
“Never can be a long time, but yes.” She cupped his cheeks. “Now can we get on with it?”
“Hell yeah.” He trailed kisses down her body, stoking the inferno of her desire. She didn’t know what to pay attention to, his lips, his teeth, or his hands as they touched every inch of her body between her lips and…
Oh my God.
She almost shot off the bed, but an arm across her stomach stopped her.
“Relax.” He kissed the crease of her right thigh then threw her leg over his shoulder. “I’m the first person to do this too.” He pushed against her other leg, exposing her, and kissed her—down there. And holy hell, her eyes rolled back in her head, and she may have even been speaking in tongues his mouth felt so good.
“I’m going to take that as a yes, you want me to stop.” He decided not to play fair, and gave her a slow delicious lick.
“Sure, if you want to die.”
That was it. He kissed, suckled, and did who knew what down there with his magic mouth. Seriously, if spontaneous combustion was a thing, she would absolutely be on fire, and wouldn’t complain one little bit.
He slid a finger inside of her, which was quickly joined by another. “I can’t wait to feel you wrapped around my cock. You’re so tight.”
He may have added a third finger, but she didn’t know, because he chose that moment to suck on her clit. Okay, she may be a virgin, but she’d had orgasms. They may have been self-induced, but they weren’t that bad. Some of them were pretty good.
As least that’s what she thought, until her entire body tensed, and she tugged him so close, he’d never escape, never go anywhere. As a matter of fact, he could stay between her legs for the rest of her life.
She may have lost consciousness or something, because she didn’t realize that he was above her and tearing the condom wrapper with his teeth until she opened her eyes.
“Holy hell.” She felt herself blinking rapidly as she tried in vain to pause for breath.
“You like that?”
His hand disappeared, and from the crinkling sound, she assumed he was covering himself with the condom. Too bad she didn’t have the energy to look.
“It was all right.” Of course, a fat bead of sweat chose that moment to roll down the side of her face. Then he laughed. And oh God, her heart didn’t just lurch, it jumped feet first off a cliff.
“I have something else that you’re gonna like much better.” He put the head of his cock against her entrance and nudged. “You okay?” The muscles in his neck flexed, but his eyes remained concerned. That was how she knew she’d chosen the right time and the right man.
“Absolutely. I think this is the best I’ve ever been.” He continued to push inside of her, but way too slow. “That feels... oh, yes.”
He worked himself inside her, slow but steady.
“It’s okay, I want all of you.”
“I don’t want to hurt you.” He filled her a little more. “I know I haven’t given you a reason to trust me, but I’m gonna ask that you do it anyway.”
“Okay.” And strange enough, she meant it. Not only was she trusting him with her body, but she knew she’d be serving her heart up on a platter soon.
He interlaced his fingers with hers, stretching her arms above her head, as he moved inside of her. Each time her eyes drifted closed, he squeezed her hands and thrust harder.
But watching him, it was…almost too much. Too much pleasure, too much pain. Tonight was too much of everything, and she wouldn’t change a second.
“You okay?” he whispered against her ear, before rising above her and waiting.
“Baby, I’m not going to break.” He did something with his hips, and she wrapped her legs around his him. “Give me more.” She moved her hips in response to his. “Give me everything.”
“You sure?”
“Hell yeah.” She licked her lips. “Unless, or course, you can’t handle it.”
“You want it, baby girl, you got it.” He released her hands, wrapped his arms around her body, and rolled until she was on top. “Show me what you got.”
“Not a problem.” She kissed him again, and rode him. All her aches and pains were forgotten as she was consumed by this man. Her man. How they got to this point in a week, she’d never know, but as his fingers dug into her hip and he drove into her, she wanted to erect a shrine to Dixie’s.
“Sit up,” he ordered, his voice rough and a little deeper than before.
As soon as she was upright, he reached between them, strumming her body. For some silly reason, she believed nothing could be better than his mouth on her, but holy hell, electricity flowed through her body, and the point of conduction was where their bodies met. The next orgasm may send her into coma.
She couldn’t hold on, or hold back. This feeling, she wanted it to last forever. Although she had no doubt that he would give her plenty of orgasms, for her, this one meant everything.
“Damn, baby.” His fingers dug into her hip, and he pressed down on her clit.
She shook her head. “I want…”
“It’s all right, there’s plenty more.” He thrust his hips mercilessly, and pressed his finger a little harder against her, and shoved her into oblivion.
“Oh my God,” she screamed. “Bryce, I can’t—”
Her pleas were interrupted by a hand cupping the back of her neck, pulling her mouth to his. When her cries ceased, he flipped her onto her back and loomed over her. If she thought he looked fierce before, now he reminded her of a Viking raider, intent on pillage. With her body still reeling, he could plunder her all he wanted.
“Candy.” He slipped both of his hands under her hips. “Tell me you’re okay.”
“I’m good, baby.” She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, digging her nails into his muscular back. “Don’t hold back.”
“You feel so...” He grunted and buried his face against her neck, finishing the sentence with his body.
He took her at her word, and she realized for the second time how incredible it was when he released the restraints on his passion. And she loved every stroke. If she hurt tomorrow, so be it. She would not regret this night, or any other spent in his arms.
His fingers dug into her butt as he tilted her hips and drove into her once more, his body trembling as he bit down on her neck. After a few slow strokes, his hips slowed, before he collapsed half on top of her.
“Wow,” she said with a laugh, stroking his back.
“No shit.” He laughed and rolled onto his back, taking her with him. “Tell me I didn’t hurt you.”
“Except for the vampire move at the end, I think I’ll recover.”
He stiffened, and unfortunately, this time, it wasn’t in a good way.
“Bryce.” She sat up, or at least she tried to, but he turned her head to look at the spot on her shoulder, and cursed. “I’m fine,” she said. “Don’t make it a bit deal.”
He placed a warm wet kiss where his teeth had bitten earlier, and curled her against him.
“See, it’s feeling better already.” She frowned, because strangely enough the burning sensation dulled to a sting. One thing was for sure, she’d have a hell of a hickey tomorrow. She sighed and rubbed her cheek against his chest. “You’re going to stay, right?”
“Just try getting rid of me.” He kissed her forehead. “I’ll be right back.”
“I’ll be here, honey.” She nodded and yawned as her eyes drifted closed.
She was asleep before he even left the bed. Bryce took care of business and made sure the house was secured before making his way back to her. He stood over her, smiling as she slept on her side with her hands tucked beneath her cheek.
If it wasn’t for that banging
body of hers, she’d look like the innocent she was. Or should he say used to be?
He pulled her hair away from her neck and winced. The bruise was bad enough, but those teeth marks. Damn. The weirdest part of this fiasco? He didn’t give a shit. He slid into bed behind her and swiped his tongue across the wound. While he couldn’t do anything about the bruise, he should be able heal the two puncture marks. Vampires weren’t the only ones with healing saliva.
Once he was satisfied she’d be fine, he lay down behind her. Before he could scoot closer, she tucked her back up against him. And damned if she didn’t fit. He reached over and shut off the light, but for him, the darkness wasn’t complete. He listened as her breathing and heart beat slowed, and whispered against her hair.
“I’m going to love and take care of you. Until the end of my days, yours is the first face I want to see in the morning and the last I see at night.” He buried his face in her hair. “Goodnight, sweetheart.”
“I’m going to love you too.” She shifted and intertwined her legs with his. “And for the love of pot stickers, stop talking.”
He chuckled and pulled her tight. No, life was never going to be dull with this one. For the next few minutes, he made a list of all the dirty things he wanted to do with her, then joined her in sleep.
* * *
Keep reading for a peek at the rest of Bryce and Murphy’s story.
The Alpha Wolf
After ten damned years spent scouring the United States for the mate he lost when he was captured, Bryce, Norcal Pack’s Alpha, has a solid lead. She’s been under his nose the entire time. But when he finally comes face to face with his mate, Bryce learns she’s with the one male in Sacramento he won’t kill—his best friend.
The Lion Prince
Wyatt’s destiny has been decided since the day he was born—down to the woman he should marry. In their world, alliances and power mean everything. Mating with a woman he doesn’t love will provide the Sacramento Pride a place to call its own. But when the human woman storms into his bar, Sanctuary, and his bed, the game changes. For good.
Shifter's Choice Page 5