Taken By Surprise

by Nichelle Gregory

  “You’re so beautiful.”

  Not terribly original, but it’ll do, Zori thought as she flashed him a winsome smile. “Thank you.” She grabbed his hand and led him away from his frustrated playmates to the centre of the floor.

  As if on cue, a slower song came on. Without hesitation, she wrapped her arms around her attractive dance partner. She tried to relax as he pulled her close. He smelt nice, but his hands on her waist didn’t make her heartbeat faster. His body was hard, but not as big as—

  Stop it!

  She would get Greyson out of her mind.

  “I’m Ty.” He lifted his head from her ear to smile down at her.

  And I don’t give a damn.

  Zori blinked, focusing on Ty’s face in the dim lighting. “Zori.” She moved closer to him, pressing her body against his in the age-old art of seduction.

  “You are a great dancer, Zori.”

  His hands slipped a little lower than her waist line as she forced herself to return his smile. “You know how to flatter a girl.”

  “That’s not all I know how to do.” Ty grabbed her hips so she could feel the hard bulge in his pants.

  She always preferred a challenge, but there would be no thrill of the hunt with Ty.

  Just as well.

  An easy lay was just what she wanted to forget—

  Oh, hell!

  “Why don’t you show me?”

  The words were barely out of her mouth before he was pulling her away from the other dancers. In no time at all, he had manoeuvred them through the crowd and towards the door. The moment they were outside, he turned, wrapped his arm around her waist and kissed her. Zori stiffened in his arms as his warm mouth pressed against hers.

  This isn’t right.

  Ty slipped his tongue between her lips.

  This isn’t right!

  “No!” Zori yanked away from him, rubbing the back of her hand across her lips as he frowned at her.

  “What’s wrong, baby? I thought you were into me, into—”

  “I’m sorry. I can’t.” She took a step backwards, very aware of the annoyance reflected in his eyes before he shrugged.

  Ty held up his hands and stepped back. “Whatever.”

  He left her there, pivoting to go back into the nightclub. No doubt to see if he had any play left with the two gals he’d dumped for her.

  This time the tears won, spilling onto her cheeks as she hurried into the alley alongside the club. She stopped behind a dumpster, shivering and crying as she slipped out of her ridiculously high heels and recited the ancient chant to shift her body. With a soft sob, she took flight, ascending quickly into the dark sky. Up so high, there was no one to hear her crying and Zori gave into her desolation as she flew to her home.

  She arrived on her penthouse terrace emotionally exhausted—yet another new experience thanks to Greyson. With a weary sigh, she recanted the magical verse, wincing as her wings tightened and disappeared along with her talons. Her stilettos bit into her chest as she unlocked the new French doors that replaced the previously shattered ones.

  She sent up a prayer of thanks for her butler, Robert, as she lit a candle, grateful he took such good care of her household needs as much as her voracious food appetites. Her gaze drifted to her king-sized bed which had been stripped, remade and looked quite inviting with ruby pillows propped along the headboard.

  She dropped her heels on the floor and stared at the thick duvet unable to stop the memories of Greyson moving between her thighs. Thrusting deeper and faster and—

  A groan escaped her lips as she clenched her thighs together, longing, wanting, wishing—

  “I’ve been waiting for you to come home.”

  Zori’s stomach dipped down to the stilettos at her feet at the sound of Greyson’s deep voice behind her. She whipped around, eyes wide, heart beating wildly as she drank in the sight of him. “Greyson.”

  There were no words to describe the chaotic emotions racing through her as she lifted her gaze to his.

  How could you walk right by me like that? she wanted to scream, but she ground her toes into her plush carpet instead.

  “What happened to the other male you were with?” He took a step forward, coming out of the shadows.

  Zori wet her lips, fighting the wave of longing ripping through her. She should’ve taken an extra pain pill. Her body positively pulsed from within and she was so hot. “How did you get in here?” Not the question she wanted to ask, but definitely easier than the one on the tip of her tongue.

  Greyson ignored her question as he came closer.

  It was no wonder she couldn’t erase him from her mind or body. Now she was alone with him again and he seemed bigger, taller than she remembered. His huge shoulders encased in the dark sweater reminded her of his lupine transformation. She could almost envision those bulging biceps shifting, changing into something larger. Everything about him exuded power and he was so damn gorgeous.

  She could smell the familiar scent of his skin and the cologne that had to be laced with pheromones she was seriously addicted to.

  “I asked you a question.” His dark eyes were hard as he studied her.

  “I asked you a question.” She risked pissing off a werewolf for what…personal satisfaction?

  “Zori, I’m not going to ask you again.”

  A shiver skittered up her spine as she watched the whisky-hued colour of his eyes darken to onyx. “What was your question?” She seriously couldn’t remember. Not when he stood so close to her. Not when it took everything within her not to reach out and touch him.

  “What happened between you and the male you were with? I can smell him on you.”

  His voice had taken on a rough edge and goose bumps erupted over her arms. “I don’t think that’s really any of your business.” Her tart response shocked her, but she wasn’t going to give him any more than he had already taken.

  “Oh, no?”

  “No.”

  She gasped as he grabbed her, yanked her so fast she instinctively resisted which proved to be futile. His arm snaked around her waist and he pulled her hard against his chest as his other hand took hold of her ponytail. She breathed hard as he applied just enough pressure with her hair to force her to meet his stormy gaze.

  “He kissed me.” She said it to evoke a reaction, to hurt him as he’d hurt her when he’d ignored her earlier.

  Greyson’s eyes dropped to her lips as he cursed then he lifted her up on her toes as he claimed her lips in a punishing kiss. He slanted her head in the perfect angle so his tongue could delve deeper into her mouth. Zori moaned as his hot tongue stroked hers, mimicking the way she knew he could move within her. He held her tighter and tighter against his body, but it wasn’t close enough. She leaned in to him, placed her hands on his arms, feeling his heat and desire.

  How she’d missed him, she thought as he tore his mouth away from hers.

  “Did he kiss you like that?”

  Her lips tingled and her breasts felt heavy as she breathlessly shook her head.

  “What else?” His gaze dropped from her swollen lips to her heaving chest. “Tell me what else happened.”

  Zori shook her head as he lifted her thick ponytail to his nose and inhaled deeply.

  “N-n-nothing else happened.” She sucked in a shuddering breath as he searched her face. The feel of his growing erection pressing against her belly sent razor sharp spikes of desire up from the wet warmth between her thighs.

  Greyson pulled the silvery band binding her hair and the silky strands fell around her face. “I know nothing happened. I just wanted you to say it. Now, you will tell me why.”

  “Why?”

  “Yes. Why didn’t you take that male into your bed?”

  His deep rich tone was coaxing…soothing, even as he slipped his fingers past her ears and back into her hair.

  Zori balled her hands into fists as he massaged her scalp. It wasn’t fair how much he affected her. “I wasn’t in the mood.” She exhale
d sharply as his hand fell from her hair to cup her breast.

  “You didn’t want him?”

  She moaned as he tugged on her erect nipple through the soft material of her dress. “Greyson…” She closed her eyes to block out the hard lines of his face.

  “Tell me. You didn’t want him to touch you?”

  She didn’t answer him as his hand trailed between her breasts past her belly button to the hem of her babydoll mini dress. Her groan was a soft plea as his fingers moved beneath her hemline to touch her thighs.

  “C’mon on, Zori, admit you didn’t want his hands on your body.” His large hand cupped her sex. “You couldn’t bear to have him touch you like I am now. Admit it!”

  “I—I didn’t want him to touch me.” She bit her bottom lip to keep from moaning with pleasure as he leisurely caressed her through her moist lingerie.

  “But, as usual, it’s very obvious you want me.”

  Chapter Six

  She couldn’t deny his words as his fingers stroked the growing wet spot on top of her panties. His touch, his kisses, made her body aches all but disappear. She felt healthier and more alive in his sinful embrace than she had for the past week and a half.

  “Say it, Zori.”

  His long finger circled her sensitive nub through the damp lace and shards of bliss shattered throughout her body.

  “Say what?”

  His hand stilled between her legs and Zori cried out as he squeezed her soaked pussy.

  “Say you didn’t want him because you want me.”

  He directed her backwards towards the bed, pushed her down on the scarlet duvet and stepped between her legs. “Say you didn’t want him to touch you because you’re mine.” His molten gaze seared her soul as he lifted her dress to her waist and exposed her lacy peach thong.

  She would deny him the satisfaction of hearing her admit how much she wanted him.

  “I didn’t want him touching me.”

  Had she really just said that?

  It was so hard to concentrate on anything other than the ferocious need of her traitorous body.

  Zori gasped as he ripped her thong off in one fluid movement.

  “You didn’t want him touching you because…”

  She burned hotter than a solar flare and he fanned the flames higher as he stroked her slick folds in slow abandon. Her cheeks burned beneath his unwavering stare. She couldn’t take much more without asking for it all. A strangled moan escaped from her lips as she fought, wanting to give in and admit her need for him. She grabbed hold of the ultra-soft duvet instead as two long fingers slipped deep inside her. “Greyson, please.”

  Did she plead for mercy or more of his sweet torture?

  The answer seemed not to matter anymore. She lifted her hips off the bed and moaned as she tightened her sheath around his fingers. A mind-shattering orgasm was just a few teasing thrusts away and she wanted…no, needed release from the pleasure prison where he held her captive.

  “Zori, what are you afraid of?”

  The look of adoration in his eyes was her undoing.

  “Everything,” she half whispered, arching her back as his fingers continued moving in and out of her dripping heat.

  Greyson lifted her foot from the edge of the bed to his face, kissed her toes as he stroked her. “Don’t be afraid…not with me. I only want to love you like this and any other way you desire. Isn’t that what you want?”

  Yes, heaven help me, yes!

  “Zori?”

  She cried out, clenching the duvet with her hands as he hooked his fingers and stroked her sweet spot with maddening accuracy. “Damn you, yes! I want you…only you. I need you to take me now.”

  Greyson flashed a triumphant smile as he removed his hand from between her wet thighs. She watched him strip off his sweater, her eyes hungrily running over the defined muscles she wanted to explore with her mouth. He dispensed with his dark jeans and underwear and the wild craving in his eyes took her breath. The sexual tension between them reached a fevered pitch as she dropped her gaze to his rock hard cock. He held out his hands for her to take hold, brought her to her feet and in the blink of an eye lifted her mini dress over her head. She hadn’t bothered with a bra and her nipples pebbled even more in anticipation of what was to come.

  He reached out to touch her, but she stepped back against the bed. With her eyes on his face she lay down on the soft blanket and slowly opened her legs. She loved the tormented gleam now reflected in the coppery depths of his eyes as he watched her fingers slide over her dewy flesh. “No more questions.”

  “No more questions,” Greyson repeated as he came to her.

  Zori sighed with delight as he covered her body with his own. It felt so right, so good to feel his heavy weight carefully poised over her. How could she have ever thought this position to be unpleasant? She spread her thighs wider as he settled between her legs, releasing a low breathy moan as he took her. He kissed her temple and she grabbed hold of his arms as he slowly filled her, admiring and cursing his remarkable restraint. She ran her hands up his straining biceps and shoulders to caress his back, feeling the tension and control in the tight muscles.

  “I missed you.”

  His husky admission brought tears to her eyes as he began to move his hips. Zori gasped as the delicious friction claimed all of her senses. She trembled beneath him as he leant down to taste her lips in a tender kiss. His warm tongue caressed hers, matching the pace of his measured sensual strokes.

  He was in complete control of her body and she didn’t care. Later, she would deal with the startling revelation, her willingness to surrender to him, but right now she wanted him to give and take pleasure however he wanted. She tore her mouth away from his and pressed her lips to his jaw line. “I missed you too.”

  Her words shattered his control and she called out his name as he worked his hard length in and out of her slick channel in deep frenzied thrusts. She closed her eyes, listening to the sounds of their passion while her entire body jerked with the force of his ardour. Her pleasure doubled then tripled before she fell over the edge of ecstasy with a soft cry of total surrender. She grabbed hold of his shoulders as orgasmic ripples swept her into a tidal wave of bliss unlike she’d ever known. There wasn’t enough air and she couldn’t remember to breathe, not when every cell of her body cried out in joy.

  She heard her name falling from Greyon’s lips as he found his own release. Moments later, he bent his head to place a kiss between her breasts before shifting his weight to lie next to her. Zori settled into the warm curve of his body, aware of the chaotic beat of her heart as they caught their breath.

  When she could move she didn’t, content to just be. Something else she’d never been inclined to do before. It was hard to cuddle with lovers who were terror stricken, unconscious or fatally injured by her volatile lovemaking. She traced a line down Greyson’s arm draped across her hip, once again admiring his strength, thankful he was none the worse for wear…far from it, in fact.

  “Why did you come back here?”

  His warm breath tickled her neck as he nipped her.

  “I thought you said no more questions.”

  “That was before…” She twisted her body to face him in the bed. “Before we made love.” Her heart skipped a beat at her choice of words.

  Too late, she couldn’t take them back.

  “Is that what you think we just did, Zori, made love?” He gently caressed her cheek, his full attention on her face.

  She looked into his eyes and wondered if he had any idea what it cost her to say the “L” word in any context relating to the opposite sex. She averted her gaze from his and stared at the dancing shadows from the candlelight on the wall behind him instead.

  “I came here tonight to see if you were ready to accept the fact that we belong together.” He grasped her chin and turned her face up to his. “I know what you are, how hard it is for your kind to love and accept love from others.”

  She opened her mouth to di
sagree, but remained silent. He was right. Harpies prided themselves on having no need for love outside the bond of sisterhood. Throughout her entire existence, her heart had only ever been open to her sisters…until now.

  “Most weres look forward to finding their mates. There is no denying the moment a bond is formed. I wasn’t looking for mine, but I found that connection with you.” He smoothed strands of her hair. “I don’t know how it happened…you are not of my kind and yet it has. I’ve never craved any woman the way I do you…never. Do you know how long that is, Zori?”

  She had some idea, being an immortal herself.

  “You felt it too…the pull between us. That’s why you ran from me.” He touched her cheek. “There’s something I need to tell you. The first time we made love here in this bed, I nipped your throat, an act usually reserved between mates.” Greyson let out a deep breath. “At the time, I didn’t understand why I did it, but I wasn’t concerned because I knew you were a harpy.”

  Zori frowned as he looked away from her. When he met her gaze, his eyes seemed to glitter in the candlelight.

  “I would have never willingly bonded with an unwilling female.”

  “I don’t remember being unwilling.”

  “By unwilling, I mean becoming my mate without your prior consent.”

  She shook her head in confusion. “So, you’re saying we’re married or something?”

  “Worse.”

  Zori sat up on her forearm. “Worse?”

  “The bond between a were and his mate is very strong. It can only be broken if one were releases the other from the sacred union or by death. You are not a were and yet we’ve bonded anyway, but that leaves only me capable of releasing you from this bond between us if that is what you desire.”

  Her freedom…he was offering her freedom from him. She could tell him to release her and go back to life as she knew it before she’d walked up to him in that club.

  “I’ve never met anyone like you, Greyson. From the very first moment I laid eyes on you, I wanted you. I admired your confidence and strength.” She wrapped her hand around as much of his right bicep as she could and squeezed the tight muscle. “I tried to erase you from my mind, but I couldn’t. No matter where I went or how much I wanted to deny our time together had affected me.”