Instead of landing on the ice, face down, she experienced a moment of suspension, her stomach gave a lurch as it felt like it was being pulled from her body. Ana landed on something warm. Unyielding, although not nearly as hard as the ice.
Her face was right next to his, their breath mingled. She was chest-to-chest and cheek-to-cheek with Winston. She was straddling his big body. Her body reacted. Ana reminded herself Winston was a guy and that she was a woman. It was perfectly normal.
“Your heart is racing.” Winston’s chest rumbled against hers as he spoke.
“Yup,” a whisper.
“Your breathing is faster,” another deep rumble.
“Yes.”
He clasped her upper arms and pulled her away slightly, making them almost nose-to-nose. “Just as I thought.” A sexy half-smile appeared on his lips. His beautiful lips. “Your cheeks are flushed.”
“They are?”
He nodded. “Are you having a panic attack?”
She gave the smallest shake of the head, unable to take her eyes off of his. “I don’t think so.”
“Good.” He crushed his mouth to hers. His hands moved over onto her back, pulling her closer to him. The kiss was not as hard and fast as the first one had been. It was softer, more languid and in many ways even hotter. It felt intimate somehow, his tongue mimicking the act of lovemaking. She whimpered, her eyes closed, her toes curled as much as ice-skates would allow. He groaned into her mouth, his chest vibrating against her. Her nipples hardened. A perfectly normal and natural reaction.
Winston cupped her cheeks and broke the kiss. He pecked her lips before smiling at her. She grinned back. Doctor Brenner was right. Kissing was fantastic. She loved it, wanted more of the same.
Whose stupid idea was this dumb movie in the first place?
Ana squirmed in her seat. The scent of her arousal hit him, causing his already hard dick to harden up a whole lot more. His cock throbbed behind his zipper.
“Maybe we should watch something else?” His voice was so guttural that he cleared his throat, trying hard to dislodge the lust that threatened to choke him.
“We’re both adults.” Ana’s gaze was locked on the screen. Her chest rose and fell in quick succession.
They’d picked up a comedy. A fucking romantic comedy. Was this kind of sex scene normal for a comedy? The female onscreen bounced on the guy’s dick. She threw her head back and wailed, breasts bouncing hard. When is it ever going to end? On and on she bounced, wailing louder and louder. Thing was, Winston was aroused by Ana’s arousal, not by what was on the screen. All he could think of was sucking on her clit and making her come using both his mouth and his dick. What hot-blooded male wouldn’t have these kinds of thoughts? A decent one. A good male wouldn’t be picturing Ana bouncing on the end of his own dick like Winston was doing right now. Her long hair loose and flowing, her face drawn in ecstasy.
“Thing is …” Shit, his voice was still ridiculously deep. “We’re both in a dry spell at the moment and … fuck …” It was his turn to squirm. His dick physically hurt. He reached for a pillow. They’d kicked some of the extra scatter cushions on the floor. Winston placed the pillow firmly on his lap and turned back to Ana. Her eyes were wide and on the pillow. Shit! She’d seen his bulging cock. The denim ready to rip. “Sorry.”
She swallowed deeply. “No, that’s alright. So you like them busty, I guess?” Her voice was soft.
They both turned back to the screen as the female screeched, her eyes scrunched shut.
“Finally,” Winston huffed. “That male is shit in bed. Absolutely clueless. Oh look …” He waved a hand in the general direction of the television and made a noise of disgust.
“What’s wrong?”
“They’re cuddling,” he said in a shocked tone.
“What’s wrong with cuddling? I mean, I know shifters aren’t looking for love or anything but cuddling is normal after sex.” She was frowning heavily.
He had to laugh. “That’s not what I mean. He gave her one measly orgasm ‒ or should I say, she took one orgasm because that douche gave her jack shit.”
“One measly orgasm as opposed to …?”
Was she for real? Then again, she hadn’t been with anyone in years. “As opposed to a string of orgasms. One is never enough. He also just laid there and made her do all the work. Just folded his hands behind his neck and that was it. The jerk doesn’t deserve to have a dick or to call himself a male.”
“What should he have done then?”
Now she was taking the piss. He looked over at her. Ana looked completely serious. “Palmed her tits. Rubbed on her clit … stuck his thumb up her ass … fucked her back … something. As soon as she was done, he should have taken over and made her come again, only this time, much harder. Look,” he waved at the screen, “she’s still talking. She shouldn’t be capable of speech.”
Ana burst out laughing. She clapped a hand over her mouth. Her eyes were wide. She looked shell-shocked, excited and embarrassed all at once. “You’re joking about the whole ass thing right? And about not being able to talk?”
“No, I’m deadly serious. You have no idea how much harder you come if—” He pressed down on the pillow. “Would you mind passing the popcorn?” Now he wanted to show her. Explain with his hands, his dick and his mouth exactly how sex should be. It would explain why females lined up on Shifter Night and why he had sworn off females in the first place. There was no way he could do it though. Ana was his friend and he had made a promise to wait.
Ana handed him the bowl. “I guess you’re pretty experienced since you’ve had so many different partners.”
“Yeah.” He shrugged. “I picked the older females in the early days. Females who knew what they wanted and weren’t afraid to demand it and to give plenty of feedback. I learned the ropes quickly.”
“I’m sure you did, Mr I’m-good-at-most-things.”
She was picking up on his tension and trying to take it easy on him. “I’m not proud of all the females I’ve slept with. I don’t care if I have to wait years for my name to come up … no more.” They both sat in silence for a few moments. “What about you? I’m sure you had males lined up wanting to take you out. Hell, I’m sure they still try their asses off.”
She shook her head. “Nah! I’ve only ever been with two guys. The first one was a big mistake and the second one …” She let the sentence die.
“Was special?” he finished for her. Fuck! She’d only ever been with two males. Two.
“He was very special.”
“Was it John?”
Winston watched her shut down. Shit! He should never have asked her that. He knew the answer.
She finally nodded once. “Yes, it was John, but I don’t really want to talk about it. I’m enjoying myself. I’m finally making some progress and,” she shrugged, “I guess I want it to continue.”
Winston nodded. He reached over and squeezed her hand. Both of them refocused on the movie. Winston picked up another handful of popcorn. He dropped it back into the bowl. “Let’s order some Chinese.” The couple onscreen were about to go at it again. This time in the shower. Winston clicked the pause button. “We’ll watch that psychological thriller, if you don’t mind?” Thank fuck they’d rented two movies.
“I don’t mind. I just can’t believe you want more food?” Ana raised her brows. “We just ate not long ago.”
He nodded. “I have a high metabolism. You should know that by now.”
She laughed. “You’re right, but you still manage to surprise me more often than not. I suppose I could do with a couple of egg rolls.” Ana was still smiling.
Winston got up. “Great!” He walked towards the kitchen, she kept the take-out menus in the top drawer. “Oh, and Ana ….?” He turned back.
“Yeah?” She had her legs tucked underneath her on the sofa. Her hair was loose about her shoulders. Fucking beautiful.
“It’s the whole package ‒ eyes, hair, body, personality ‒ all of it.
It’s everything about a female. Not just her ass or her … chest. So, just because that female had big breasts, does not mean I was attracted to her.”
“Oh, okay. I just thought that because you were … you know … that you were turned on by Jennifer Wilson.”
“Who the hell is Jennifer Wilson?” He frowned, taking a step back into the room towards her.
“The actress in that movie, the one with the big …” She held her hands out over her chest. “Men love her.”
“I couldn’t give two shits about Jennifer Wilson. My hard-on had nothing to do with what was happening onscreen.” He was saying too much. “Don’t take this the wrong way but you’re beautiful, Ana, and you give off the most amazing scent when you’re turned on. My body sometimes forgets that we’re friends. Don’t worry though because I haven’t. I respect you.”
Her eyes turned a bit glassy and she blinked a couple of times. “That’s so incredibly sweet. Thank you! I appreciate you spending time with me. I’m really enjoying myself. I’ve almost stopped worrying about having a panic attack. You’re a really good guy.” She looked down at the floor. “I guess I really miss sex, that’s all. So, if I make stupid noises while we’re kissing or I give off that scent you’re talking about, it’s not personal or anything.”
Ouch! His ego took a bruising but at the same time, it was exactly what he needed to hear. “I know. It’s fine.”
“And I respect you too.”
Double fucking ouch! Winston nodded. Oh well, he had said it first and he had meant it. “Let me fetch that menu.”
She smiled. “Do you think I’ll get over this … whatever is holding me back?”
Yes, he did. Big time yes. He should probably take her straight to the Dark Horse right now, but he couldn’t. He was a selfish fuck because he wasn’t done spending time with her yet. One or two more weekends and then he’d have to do the right thing by her even if it killed him.
“You’re looking at me funny. I take it you think I’m a lost cause? That I’ll be fifty and married to my dildo?”
“You have no fucking idea how wrong you are on both counts. I think you’re going to be just fine. A few more dates with me,” he winked at her, “and you’ll be ready.”
“You really think so?” She smiled. “I don’t feel as nervous at the prospect of meeting new people.”
“See!” He raised his brows. “I really do think you’ll be ready.” He felt himself frown. “I thought you said you didn’t use a dildo though.” Fuck! His voice was husky again.
“Just because I use my hand doesn’t mean I don’t own a dildo.”
Winston nodded. He leaned against the doorjamb. “Have you thought about what you plan to do when you do start dating again? Are you going to try the internet again or …?”
Ana shook her head. “No way. That was awful. I was thinking I should have sex first. Just get that out of the way like we did with our first kiss …” Her eyes widened. “Not that I meant that we should … you know …”
“Fuck.” Her eyes widened as he said it.
“Yes, that.” Her voice was husky as well.
“Say it.” He smiled.
“Why?” She folded her arms.
“How are you going to do it if you can’t even say it?”
She pushed out a breath. “I suppose you’re right.” Ana didn’t say it though, she just sat there.
“You’ve only had sex with two people, you’re not one for fucking around, which is a good thing. You should forget about having casual sex. I promise you, it’s not all it’s cracked up to be.”
“Fuck.” She widened her eyes and grinned. “There, I said it. Fuck, fuck, fuck,” she giggled, looking happy with herself.
His dick loved hearing her say it. His cock was perverted as hell, it started to harden.
“I can’t start dating again ‒ properly I mean ‒ until I’ve had sex. I’ll consider myself mostly cured after spending the night with someone.” She lifted her eyes in thought. Like she was considering confiding in him. Then, her beautiful blue orbs locked with his. “I’m more fearful of starting a relationship than what I am of having sex. I know that sounds stupid, but it’s true. Sex would be the next logical step.”
“Are you sure that’s what you want?” He wasn’t sure why he was pushing this. The agreement was that they would fake date until she was able to meet people herself. This was all about desensitizing Ana and about them having fun. “You do know that if you find the right guy he’ll be patient and kind. He won’t mind if you have a panic attack. He’ll hold your hand through the whole thing. He’ll be the one to call the emergency services. He certainly won’t mind a bit of puke on his shoe.”
Ana’s shoulders tensed, her jaw tightened. Her eyes took on a look of fear. Then she shook her head. “I’m not looking for a relationship. I thought I was, but I’m not ready. A guy like you described would only scare me off even more.” She shook her head again. “This has got to be done in steps and the next logical step is sex. Since you’re not available,” she giggled, but it came out sounding nervous, “I need to find someone else ‒ when the time comes, that is.”
Fuck! He wanted to volunteer so badly. He grabbed the top of the doorjamb and squeezed. The wood creaked so he let go. “Okay, let me know when you’re ready and I’ll introduce you to a couple of the guys.” His voice took on a hard edge.
She nodded. “Although, I’m not sure I’ll ever feel ready. You might have to give me a push in the right direction.”
“That’s not for me to decide.” He shook his head. There was no way he was handing her over to someone, or talking her into it. He wasn’t her goddamn pimp. Fuck! “I still think it’s a bad idea.”
“Please, promise me, when you think I’m ready, even if I’m not sure myself, that you’ll tell me. That you’ll help me. It’s what I need.” Her eyes were wide and pleading.
“Okay.” Winston looked into Ana’s eyes. She was so damned sweet that it floored him. There was no way he could say no. Not all of the shifters were understanding males. None of them was good enough for her, but hell, he’d find the best possible male for the job, so help him.
“So, you’ll introduce me and be there in case anything goes wrong?”
“No way, some of the males are into threesomes, but—”
“No, I don’t mean that!” She looked at him like he had grown a tail or something. “I know you’re saving yourself for when you hit the top of the list. I would never expect …” She sighed.
“Okay, okay!” He put up his hands. “Sorry, it’s just that for a second there you sounded like you wanted me to be there, as in, in the room.” The thought made him break out in a sweat. There was no way he could watch her with another male. Not a fucking chance.
“No, silly!” She looked like she wanted to say something and thought better of it. “Just that you’ll be there at the bar with me. With us, at least until I’m comfortable.”
“What are friends for?”
She smiled. It was radiant. “Thank you.”
“You should probably start using that dildo,” he blurted.
Her mouth fell open. “What? Why?”
“Preparation. Shifters are big … everywhere and you haven’t had sex in a long time.”
She swallowed hard. “Yeah. Okay … yeah.” That scent of her arousal was back.
Winston tried to breathe through his mouth. Fuck, he could taste Ana. He turned, hoping she didn’t catch a glimpse of his hardening dick. At this rate he’d have a permanent zipper indentation if he wasn’t careful.
Yup, one or two more weekends and he’d give her that push she needed. He couldn’t hold her back just because he loved spending time with her. It would be wrong.
15
Something wasn’t right. He thought back to how Ash had acted so strangely a couple of months ago. How he’d sniffed the air and gouged the earth with his enormous clawed paws. It was a prickling sensation. Like he was being watched. It was a shift in the air. Not some
thing he could get the scent of or a handle on. Just a feeling of things not being quite right.
“What is it?” his alpha asked, once the male completed his shift. Obviously Ward did not feel whatever it was that Winston was feeling. He didn’t have that same sense of apprehension. That same feeling of foreboding, or the male would never have shifted. It was the same as last time where Ash had picked up on something but he hadn’t.
Winston put his snout in the air and sniffed hard. He couldn’t bring himself to don his human skin. To do so would mean showing weakness. Instead, his lip peeled back and a low growl erupted from somewhere deep inside him. His alpha would understand its meaning.
Beware.
Danger.
His skin prickled beneath his fur, which bristled. A need to scout their immediate surroundings took hold of him. Winston rushed forward, senses on high alert. He headed a hundred feet to the north-west and then another fifty to the east. He continued on, until he’d moved in a complete circle, back where he’d started.
Ward chuckled from somewhere behind him. He could hear the male walking towards him. Could hear each footfall on the soft earth. Could hear the odd snap of a pine needle.
“What’s got you so rattled?” his alpha asked, about fifty feet away now.
They had been out there for two days. Far out. About a day’s walk from home. Tracking game. If they went too much further, they wouldn’t get their catch back home before it spoiled. His heart slowed its race and his breathing calmed.
Fuck!
Ash and his damned paranoia had spread over to him. He needed to give the male a piece of his mind when they got back to the village. Ash might be stronger but Winston was way faster, a ton more flexible.
A roar sounded behind him followed by a thud. What the fuck? Ward! His hackles went up. Winston did a one-eighty in mid-air. Jumping fallen trees and crashing through the undergrowth, Winston closed the distance between himself and his alpha within a second or two.
Ward lay face down, his back a torn up, bleeding mess. Winston scanned the area. Everything in him bristled. Adrenaline coursed through him. Whatever had done this was nowhere in sight. No animal was capable of moving quickly enough to inflict this type of damage and leave before Winston could catch sight of them. Even more concerning was the lack of scent in the air.
Shifter Night Box Set: Complete Set (Book 1 - 3) Page 10