Gil heard her. “It does and it will get better.”
“Do you know every dumb thought before I speak it?”
“Not always, the red ribbon thing caught me by surprise.”
———
“Hello.”
Holy crap. It’s him. Truro whirled around at the sound of that voice. She almost dropped the gas nozzle she held into her fuel tank. “Why are you here?” While she was excited he was, he was not someone she expected to see again. The amusement and pleasure she saw in his eyes, made her heart run riot. Truro wanted to walk into his arms and press against his solid, hot body and never move.
“I’m here for the same reason you are.” He pointed to a late model sedan parked in the next bay. “I’ve been thinking about you.”
Yay! Me too. It was exciting to be wanted by a gorgeous man. True she had no idea what his name was or what he did but maybe that was part of the mystique of this attraction between them. However thoughts like that would get her nowhere. Truro knew she had to set a roadblock. He would move on and she didn’t want to be pining over him like some pathetic simp. “Look, about last night—”
“It was amazing.”
Oh God yes it was. “It was a one-off.”
“I need more.”
Yes please. Take me I’m yours. Truro cleared her throat and felt the gas click off. She busied herself with stowing the hose and replacing the fuel cap while she thought about what to say. “The thing is, I don’t usually do that.”
“I know.”
“How do you know?” There were times she barely knew herself. Six months ago she had made the worst mistake when she had fallen for Rodney Dowell straight away. He was a gorgeous and charming stranger, like this man, passing through Ludlum. Rodney had said all the right things. In hindsight of course Truro knew there had been a level of desperation within her that she was unaware of. It had been a need to feel and belong and give into something she craved but couldn’t name.
Rodney had been the wrong person because he had wanted only one thing. Unfortunately, Truro hadn’t worked that out until the end. She had been available pussy and nothing else. He had smoothly charmed her fears away until she gave in to whatever he wanted. After he had taken and tasted and used, his attitude changed. While he still wanted her body, Rodney started to pick faults. She was too fat, too pale and too unattractive for him. His taunting words ate away at her self-esteem until Truro had felt lower than she ever had before and she had thought that would have been impossible.
Truro had never really had anyone in life to depend on. Her mother was a violently abusive alcoholic and her father had never returned home after his stint with the minefield in Western Queensland. It had been just Truro and her mother for two of the longest years of Truro’s life. Nothing she did for her mother was good enough. Truro was never pretty or smart enough and seemingly her mother believed all her problems were because of Truro. At seventeen, fed up with the bashings and the abuse, Truro had left home and begun her travels around Australia, working and sleeping where she could. She had made many mistakes, taking the wrong lovers here and there, all because she had needed to feel something—anything—other than being alone and unloved. When Rodney came along and treated her as he had, Truro had realized she was her own worst enemy. She was looking for something that did not exist.
Until now. Truro looked her lover up and down. Was this man any different? And how could she blame him for approaching her with such an eager look in his eyes. She had been only too available last night. Naturally he would think it was an ongoing offer. “You know nothing about me and I’m not offering more of what happened last night.” Even as she said the words, Truro felt a rush of wet heat between her legs. When he took her hand, she felt herself blush once more as a shiver ran through her body. His words from last night rang in her ears. You are mine as I am yours. Had he meant that? Did he feel the same crazy need that she did? “I have to pay for the gas.” Truro tried to pull from his hold but he remained fast.
“I’ll come with you.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of,” she mumbled as she edged around the car. It was weird holding someone’s hand. Weird but nice.
“You never have to be scared with me.”
Oh boy. “I—er—um…” What the hell am I trying to say?
“What do you want?”
The obvious answer was you. “I need—”
“I need too.” He gently pulled her along toward the first available door. It was to the ladies room. After a quick glance around, he opened it and looked around. “Inside.”
“Why?” Duh. Her wet inner thighs were answer enough. Incoming cock. There were so many reasons why Truro knew she should not step over the threshold but none of them were compelling enough for her to turn away. She followed him inside and he locked the door behind them. “Wolf man, I—”
He came straight to her, wrapping his arms around her body and pressing her close. “I don’t want to pretend or play games, petal. I want you and I believe you want me.”
Truro sighed as she leaned against him. Wonderful. “This is not rational.” But oh how I love a man who knows what he wants and is not afraid to say it. It was so sexy to Truro.
“The best things never are.”
The solid, reliable strength of his body was weakening any resolve she had to pull away. “I need to get back to work.” Though there was not a damn thing she could think of that needed doing at the caravan park where she worked.
He brushed the hair from her face. “No you don’t. You’re just scared.”
“Yes.” There was no point denying it.
“I will never hurt you.”
He sounded like he meant it. “Me either.” For some reason she couldn’t fathom, Truro needed him to know that.
“I want you naked.”
The thought of his hot skin against hers made Truro shiver. “Naked is not good for me.” She had barely glanced at her surroundings. The man in her arms was the only thing that mattered.
“I saw you naked last night.”
“I look better in half light.”
He chuckled and stepped back from her. “I don’t believe that. Take your clothes off for me.”
Only for you. “You too.” Truro wanted to see him naked one last time. She knew the reality of the situation would sink in and he would move on. At least I’ll have an amazing memory to think back on. It was the whole carpe diem thing. Take the moment and make the most of it.
“Whatever you wish,” he responded as he pulled his shirt over his head.
The sight of his hard chest and wild, yet beautiful wolf tattoo made Truro’s fingers clumsy as stripped off. She wanted to touch and taste and she rushed to get naked. Nudity was not something she embraced. But being so with this man was as natural as breathing.
“You are so lovely.”
His words made her feel that she was beautiful and this gave Truro a power she never imagined she could feel. A wave of just wanting to be who she was and take a chance gripped her. “As are you.” Truro trailed her fingers down his chest to meet the tip of his stiff cock. She smiled knowing that was for her and she was going to make the most of it. Truro’s hands moved back up to caress the tattoo. The eyes of the wolf were sharp and perceptive yet strangely warm. Like the man? She pushed him back against the wall and melded her body tightly to his. The heat from his skin and the spicy musk of his body made Truro close her eyes. For just one moment she felt an overwhelming sense of belonging. Truro wanted to hold onto that feeling as long as she could.
“This is not an ideal place to make love,” he said as his had moved down to cup her ass and hold her close.
Truro opened her eyes and focused on the man. This man is special. How, she wasn’t sure. She just knew it in her heart. “Anywhere with you is perfect.”
He pushed her back slightly. “Do you mean that?” His eyes searched hers for answers.
“As crazy as that sounds, strangely enough I do.” Truro kept her han
ds on his chest, almost as if the tattoo had drawn her to the muscled flesh. “Who are you and why do I feel this way?”
“How do you feel?”
“Totally out of control.” Truro wanted to throw caution to the wind and just hold on for the wild ride this man would give her. Yes, she had learned a lesson after that disaster with Rodney, but this was different. How? It was something Truro couldn’t put her finger on. It was about her needs being fulfilled.
He smiled at her. “You know why, petal.”
“We are strangers.” Yet here I stand naked, your cock pressed against my stomach and I want to swallow you whole. I am so wet with my need for you.
“Are we?”
Yes. No. “I don’t know any more.” The only thing she was sure of was she wanted him. “Condom?”
“Why?” His voice was light and teasing.
“Because I want you to fuck the stuffing out of me.” Truro felt his cock jerk at her words. His lips met hers in a deep, passionate kiss that made her stand on her tiptoes to taste every delicious moment of it. She surrendered her mouth to his, too overcome with desire and the sweet taste of his kisses to worry about how rational any of this was.
As his mouth left hers, he ran a finger along her wet, lower lip. “It would be a privilege to be inside you once more, petal.” He gave her a gentle push and bent down to reach for his trousers. “Turn around and put your hands on the wall.”
The idea of being taken once more from behind excited Truro. There was something so possessive and primal in mating this way. “Hurry up.” She positioned herself so she stood with her ass out and her hands above her head. Thankfully the door was locked. There was no way this could be passed off as anything other than what it was. Pure, hot sex between two consenting adults. The last thing she waited was one of the Ludlum locals walking in and finding her like this. The news of it would ricochet around the town like a bullet. “I’m waiting.”
“Needy?”
“I’m so wet, wolf man.”
“Oh man, you shouldn’t have said that.” Her lover’s voice was hoarse as he quickly worked on covering his cock with the thin rubber.
“Why?” Truro knew why. She wasn’t the only one losing what little was left of their control.
“I wanted to go slower this time.”
Truro rotated her hips in a deliberate manner to entice him to touch and enter. The thought of his body against her and his cock buried deep inside were the only things that mattered. “If you go slowly I will scream.”
He chuckled as he hurried back behind her and slapped her ass. “You are adorable.” Truro squealed in excitement. “Did you like that?” His hand spanked her ass two more times.
“I like your cock better.” Truro pushed her ass back at him, feeling his cockhead hard and full nudging her ass. “I need you.” Never had she thought those words would come out of her mouth.
“As I do you.”
“So come on inside.” It was quaint and sweet and sexy to invite a man in without fearing her would take and not give back.
“Yes ma’am.”
As his cock slid inside her wet core, Truro realized she was holding her breath, wanting to feel every hot inch of male flesh take over her body and make her his to control. She gripped at the wall looking for purchase as she spread her legs wider to accommodate his entry. When his cock was lodged all the way inside, they stood still and close so only the sound of their breathing could be heard.
“I don’t think I will ever get enough of you,” he whispered against her ear.
The soft, sucking wet kisses he placed down her neck and onto her shoulders made Truro shiver with anticipation at what was to come. There was something so sensual and seductive about being filled and waiting for a lover to move. “Wolf man?”
“Yes, petal?”
“What am I going to do when you go?” Truro stiffened in surprise. That wasn’t what she had meant to say. She was going to urge him to move and to make her come and yet the need to know what came next was more important. Was that even rational considering neither knew the other’s name? Truro shook her head. “Forget I said that. I’m really very needy at the moment.” She edged back to make him move.
“There is so much I need to explain to you.”
Was there? What could there be for two strangers having sex? Truro turned her head to look at him. “I just want you to please move within me.” She needed to remember that rush of feeling she’d felt last night.
“We will talk.” He pulled halfway out of her body and pushed back inside.
Oh yes. “Fuck first. Talk later.” His chuckle reverberated down her spine as he continued a slow and deep thrusting back and forward. Truro panted softly, eager to take whatever was on offer. His balls grinding against her ass made her heart race. She felt the perspiration on her upper lip as she tried to hold back the small whimpering sounds the plunging heat of his cock drove her on to make. Once more Truro felt the wolf tattoo burning into her skin. She felt an overwhelming feeling of rightness, that what was happening was not just sex between strangers. It was something more. Something indefinable.
“You are so tight and delicious,” he growled, his hands moving around to caress her breasts as he continued with kissing her shoulders and back.
Truro sighed as his fingers played with her nipples. She was so hot that it was no surprise to her when she felt her body start to tremble under the beginnings of an orgasm. As if he knew this, her lover quickened his pace, thrusting harder. Truro bit her tongue as she felt the scream come to her lips. She didn’t want anyone rushing into the ladies room to investigate. “Oh, wolf man…”
“Next time I want to go slowly,” he murmured against her ear as he pushed himself on to release. “I want to start licking you from your toes up, not missing an inch of skin. I want you wet from my tongue and your own juices.”
Oh God. If only there would be a next time. It was then that Truro screamed. The orgasm that shot through her loins and up her spine, was so powerful that she knew she would have fallen to the ground if he had not held her so tightly. His laugh of pure, masculine delight was cocky yet sweet. Truro held on to the wall, loving every pounding thrust he delivered until he came with a strangled howl of satisfaction.
“Good?”
“Amazing,” Truro gasped out as she tried to catch her breath and make her heart less frantic. Please God let there be a next time.
———
As they walked back to the cars, Murphy smelled the blood before he saw it. He grabbed hold of her arm and held on fast. Although he was yet to learn her name, Murphy did not want the love of his life walking into danger.
“Holy crap! There’s blood trail.” Truro looked agog.
There was a wide swathe of bloody red, trampled grass that stretched off into the surrounding bushland. “Stay here.”
Truro took his hand. “Not likely, wolf man.”
Despite the situation, Murphy gave a small smile. He loved it when she called him that. It was a sweet intimacy he was looking forward to enjoying for the rest of their lives together. “Stay behind me then.”
Truro rolled at her eyes at him. “I’m not useless you know.”
“I never indicated you were. It’s just this much blood is not going to be good.” Instinct told him this was not animal blood. Murphy’s hand tightened on the small one within his. There was no way he would allow any danger to touch his woman. He started following the trail. He knew they were following a path of death.
“No, but I feel better going with you than staying behind and wondering.”
Murphy made sure he took the lead. As he parted the shrubs, he saw it. “Oh hell. Don’t look.” He barely wanted to look at the bloody, torn flesh of what appeared to be a man scattered in a messy pile before them.
Regardless of his words, Truro looked. “Is that human? It doesn’t look real.”
“Yes.” It was only too real and it spelled instant trouble to Murphy. I have to tell the others. Something li
ke this, at this time, was no coincidence.
“Is that an arm? And that hair—” Truro gasped and staggered against Murphy clutching him for support. “T-that’s Rodney or was Rodney…how could that be? He hasn’t been in Ludlum for months. ” Her voice trailed off in shock.
Rodney? Who the hell was he and what did he have to do with my woman? Even though the man was dead, Murphy felt a burst of jealously tear through him. Was she upset by this? Her eyes were wide and saucer shaped in shock What had this man meant to her? “You knew him?”
“He’s the asshole who told me I was fat and ugly.”
As pleased as Murphy was to hear the anger in her voice, he was annoyed that he didn’t have the chance to teach this Rodney a lesson before he was killed. “He deserved to die then.” What sort of man told a woman something like that? No man should make any woman feel unattractive. It was wrong and dishonorable, but then not many followed the code of honor Murphy did. Only an inferior breed blamed another for perceived shortcomings.
“Maybe, metaphorically speaking, but not like this.” Truro shivered at Murphy’s side. “He looks like he has been ripped limb from limb.”
“Yes.” The creature that had done this would have inflicted maximum pain on his victim. But why?
“What could have done this?” Truro leaned against Murphy for support. “Ludlum is so quiet and boring. Could it have been the wolves?”
“No.” As he gave her strength supporting her, she made him feel strong being able to do so. “Wolves do not kill like this nor do they attack larger predators. Someone wants us to think it was a wolf.” But who? Murphy saw the puzzled look in her eyes. There was no time to explain. He would later when they could be alone. When she was ready for the full truth. “We need to report this.”
“Yes, my cell phone is back at the car. I’ll get it.”
“I’ll come with you.” Murphy was not about t leave her unprotected.
“I’ll be fine.”
He suspected she was used to dealing with things on her own. That was going to change. Murphy was in her life now. “Regardless, petal, I will escort you.”
“Look, we had sex. You owe me nothing.”
Werewolf Me Page 4