Dark Protector

by Katie Reus

  Heat surged through her as everything feminine inside her flared to life. He grasped one of her hands with his free one. She loved the feel of his callused fingers against hers.

  “I love you, Natalia,” he growled, his fingers tightening on the back of her head. “Have for a long time. What I feel for you eclipses anything I’ve felt for anyone. Ever.”

  His words enveloped her, both female and wolf accepting the raw truth. She wasn’t coming in second, never would. Her heart cracked open as she accepted that she loved him too. Had for far too long. She’d been in lust with him ever since he’d saved her from those vampires hell-bent on killing her, when he hadn’t even known who she was. The love hadn’t been far behind that.

  God, that seemed like a lifetime ago. Unexpected tears stung her eyes. Blinking them away, she started to tell him that she loved him too, but he put a finger over her lips.

  “Don’t respond. I haven’t earned your trust yet, but I will.”

  She nipped his finger lightly and he growled low in his throat. They might have to forge trust with each other still, but he was here, laying himself bare to her.

  She wouldn’t be a coward, not when he was everything she’d ever wanted. If she walked away from him, from what they might have, she was a fool. Her wolf wouldn’t let her anyway. She was way too possessive of this male. The thought of letting him go, of someone else touching him… Nope.

  “I have the house all to myself.” The softly spoken words weren’t at all what she’d been about to say, but now that she’d said them, she didn’t want to take them back. Heat flooded between her thighs as his grayish-green eyes darkened with hunger.

  Without giving him a chance to respond, she moved lightning fast, ducking away from him and into the house. She’d barely taken two steps inside before he was on her, slamming the door behind them.

  She loved being chased, knew it was a wolf thing. It didn’t matter that she wasn’t submissive outside the bedroom, she still craved for him to take complete control in bed.

  His mouth crushed over hers as one hand slid to the back of her skull, holding her tight. A shudder racked her body as she moaned into his mouth. Kissing him felt like coming home.

  She leaned into him, linking her fingers behind his neck as she tried to climb him. They’d both seen each other in stages of nudity, and she’d most definitely been able to appreciate what he looked like after a shift. Back in the underground prison she’d been too traumatized to appreciate him. And normally she tried to avoid staring too hard and getting caught.

  Now she didn’t have to pretend she wasn’t turned on, didn’t have to avoid looking. And she wanted to see every single inch of him right now. She reached for the button of his jeans but he grasped her wrists, growling softly against her mouth as he tugged them away.

  He pulled back, his eyes bright with need. “I get to taste you first.”

  It took all of a second for her to realize what he meant. Another shot of heat flooded between her thighs. She cleared her throat. “I’ve never…had a male do that.” And she really, really wanted Aldric to, even if she was nervous.

  “You’re really are a virgin.” He rasped the words out, not exactly a question.

  “Yes.”

  He growled again, this one harsher than before, as he lifted her into his arms.

  She let out a little yelp, but twisted slightly so that she could wrap her legs around his waist. She couldn’t get close enough to him. Wanting to tease him, to make him crazy, she nibbled little kisses along his jaw as he walked them to…somewhere.

  He sucked in a sharp breath when she not-so-lightly bit his earlobe, the energy rolling off him intense as his grip on her ass tightened.

  She couldn’t seem to focus on anything, including their surroundings. When he laid her down in front of the living room fireplace, covering her body with his, she arched into him.

  “Naked, now,” she demanded. She wanted to stroke her fingertips over every single inch of his muscular, delectable body. She was tired of not being able to touch the only male she’d ever craved. It was as if she’d come alive with sensuality when they’d met, then she hadn’t been able to do a damn thing about it.

  His mouth curved up in the sexiest, most wicked grin as he crouched in front of her. Ignoring her demand, he kept his gaze pinned to hers as he slowly unbuttoned her jeans. Instead of tugging them off, he simply pulled the zipper down, but nothing else.

  Her breasts were heavy with need, her nipples tightened into painful beads as her inner walls clenched, desperate to be filled by him. She might not have any experience with males, but she knew exactly what she needed right now. Aldric inside her.

  She reached for him, ready to strip all of his clothes off, but he moved back onto the balls of his feet, crouching in between her spread legs.

  “I’m getting my fill of you first.” His voice was deep, seductive.

  Breathing erratically, she shook her head. “I want to see all of you.” Her words came out a shaky plea.

  “Soon.” The gleam in his eyes told her she wouldn’t regret doing as he ordered. Still, she wanted to strip him bare. Before she could respond he reached for the hem of her sweater, tugged it over her head.

  When Natalia was completely bared to him, all the air left Aldric’s lungs. He’d seen her naked in different situations, but seeing her full breasts all ripe and his to taste, to tease, his cock shoved at his jeans.

  This female had the ability to destroy him. He couldn’t imagine another day without her in his life. When he hadn’t been looking, she’d become his life.

  He wasn’t letting her go.

  Knowing she hadn’t been touched by another male did something to his most primitive side. He wouldn’t have cared if she hadn’t been a virgin, but knowing he was going to be her first—and her last—made him feel a hundred fucking feet tall.

  And terrified he’d fuck this up.

  Bring her as much pleasure as she could take—that was his number one goal. Realizing he was staring, he moved into action.

  Her slender fingers slid up his chest, clutched onto his shoulders as he dipped a head to her breast.

  Her fingers dug into him, just the tips of claws pricking his skin as he barely bit down on her light brown nipple.

  “Aldric.” His name came out as a moan as she arched her back, trying to push deeper into his mouth.

  He pulled back, blew on the glossy, hard bud. God, he wanted to devour this female.

  She shuddered, the scent of her lust as sweet as her natural cherry blossom scent. She invaded his veins, made him crazy with a hunger that he had to shove back. Right now was all about her, about making her scream his name as she came against his tongue.

  His cock jerked again, his erection hard and painful. Too fucking bad.

  She rolled her hips against him as he slowly teased her other breast.

  “You know…how many times I fantasized about this,” she whispered, the words not quite a question.

  He growled low in his throat. He could imagine because he’d probably had the same fucking fantasies. His were probably dirtier though.

  Her claws pricked his shoulders again when he nipped at the sensitive underside of a breast.

  The pleasure-pain sent a punch of sensation through him, making his cock pulse. He loved that she didn’t apologize for the use of claws, as if she knew he craved everything she had to give.

  “I need more!” she cried out.

  He laughed against her breast even as he continued lower, his hands gliding along her ribs and waist. “So demanding.”

  She simply rolled her hips, her breathing growing more erratic as he kissed lower, lower… He kissed all along her abdomen, teasing the sensitive skin right above her unbuttoned jeans.

  Her scent was pure heaven, growing stronger by the second. He wanted to plunge deep into her with his cock, to claim her, but it was too soon for that.

  Even if she disagreed with him, he wasn’t fully taking her tonight. But he wa
s going to taste her, hear what she sounded like when she came.

  The wire tethering his control grew taut, almost snapped, as he tugged her jeans and thong down her lean legs. He tossed her clothes to the side and stared down at the juncture between her legs. With a shaking hand, he barely teased a finger down her silky, pink folds.

  She made a soft sigh of pleasure, barely rolling her hips.

  Inhaling, he drew in her scent, every part of him feeling primal with the demand to take her. He held back though, taking his time. If this was her first time experiencing this, he was going to make damn sure she came. More than once by the time the night was over.

  When he traced his finger down her folds again, she shuddered and moaned. “Aldric,” she whispered. The sound was pure music to his soul, soothing all of him.

  Natalia, the female he’d been fantasizing about forever, was right here, moaning out his name.

  Reaching up her body, he cupped a breast, tweaked a hard nipple as he buried his face between her legs. He wanted to inundate her with sensation. He’d been serious when he’d told her he hadn’t trusted himself not to hunt her down and claim her. He felt the need now, driving him hard.

  He’d wanted to go slower, to work her up even more, but he couldn’t not taste what was right in front of him.

  “Oh…” She let out a garbled moan as his tongue flicked up her soaked folds.

  She was so fucking wet. All for him.

  Mine.

  His wolf knew that without a doubt, the mating instinct a live thing inside him, demanding he take her from behind under the full moon, mark her with his teeth so everyone knew she was his. Off-limits.

  He shoved that primitive side back down, focused on her clit.

  Her fingers thrust through his hair, holding onto his head as he ate at her, so fucking hungry for her he could come right then and there. He should be embarrassed by that, but this female pulled him inside out. He wanted to bring her so much pleasure that she had no doubt who she belonged to.

  Him.

  He slid a finger inside her, moaned against her folds as he felt just how tight she was. Her inner walls clenched around him, drawing him in.

  He added another.

  “Aldric,” she rasped out, his name a prayer on her perfect lips.

  He increased pressure on her clit, didn’t let up as she rolled her hips over and over, meeting him stroke for stroke. She’d probably had an orgasm before from her own touch but he hoped he was the first to do this for her.

  He knew when she was close, could feel the way her sheath grew tighter, slicker. When she surged into orgasm, he still didn’t let up. He kept teasing her clit with each ragged cry that tore from her throat.

  Until she grew limp, her fingers just stroking against his hair. “Holy…” She practically purred. “That was incredible.” Her voice was soft, sensual.

  Breathing hard, he looked up the length of her body, drinking in every inch of her bare skin until he met her gaze. “You’re incredible.”

  Smiling, she pushed up, stretched out her hands for him.

  He grasped them, slid his fingers through hers. “Not…tonight.” He barely forced the words out, hoping she understood. He couldn’t lose control tonight. She didn’t deserve that her first time, and when they finally crossed that line he wanted to bond with her. Not just mate.

  “Fuck that,” she snarled, ripping at the button of his jeans, shoving them down to his hips.

  He told himself to stop her, but simply couldn’t, not when she looked so fierce, so beautiful. She wrapped her fist around his cock, pumped him once, twice, harder, harder, her grip intense.

  The sensation was pure. Fucking. Heaven. His fantasies didn’t come close to what the actual feel of her touching him was like. “I want your come on me. I want your scent all over me.” She was still practically snarling at him, her dark eyes seeming brighter.

  Fuck him.

  He stared into her dark, blazing eyes, this brave female who’d completely stolen his heart, before slanting his mouth over hers.

  She moaned into him, would have to taste herself on him. He wondered if she liked the way she tasted and that thought made his entire body jolt. It took all his control not to flip her onto her knees, to slide into her from behind and lose himself.

  She continued pumping him, as if she already understood his body and what he wanted. Growling into her mouth, he savored the feel of her hand wrapped around him, her soft palm against his cock. He’d fantasized about this countless times, but having her actually touching him, stroking him, was better than any fantasy.

  Finally he let go of his control, coming on her hand and stomach in long, hot jets. He tore his mouth from hers and gasped for breath, watching her face as he found his release.

  Keeping his gaze pinned to hers, he reached between their bodies, rubbed his essence into her. He didn’t care how primal it was. He wanted his scent on her as much as she wanted it. Hell, he wanted it embedded in her, so deep that no one could mistake who she belonged to.

  “I love you too, by the way.”

  Her voice was clear. She wasn’t saying the words through a fog of lust. All the muscles in his body pulled tight at her admission. It was more than he’d dared hope for right now. Especially after the way he’d broken her trust.

  But he was a selfish bastard and he would take her love. Take it and give everything back to her.

  Leaning down, he brushed his lips over hers but pulled back at the sound of the front door opening. “Nat, why is there a bag on the front porch—”

  Natalia pushed at his chest, her eyes wide. “Don’t come in!” she shouted before burying her face in his chest.

  There was a long pause, then. “Oh my God! It smells like a freaking brothel in here. You two better clean up!” Gloria’s muted giggles trailed off as the door slammed shut.

  Aldric laughed as Natalia just pulled him down onto her, wrapping her arms around him. She kissed his mouth as if she was starving for him, as if they hadn’t just brought each other to release.

  He kissed her back with the same intensity because the truth was, he was starving for her too. He would never get enough of her either.

  This female owned him, body and soul.

  Chapter 22

  One month later

  Natalia forced herself not to run as she made her way to Teresa, Ryan and Lucas’s place. Tonight was the night. And she wanted to talk to her big sister. Because, okay, she was a little freaked out at the thought of bonding.

  Aldric had been stupidly insistent that they wait until now to have sex. Like he was still punishing himself over the way he’d run from her. Or she assumed that was the reason why. He’d been frustratingly vague on the reason.

  Well, now he was just punishing her. The fooling around was fun—beyond fun—but she wanted everything from him. And he was going to give it to her.

  Tonight.

  She wanted to talk to Teresa because she was just curious about the other stuff that went with bonding. Like the telepathic link. Bonded couples had that ability but no one really talked about it much.

  When she reached the front porch, she let out a little laugh at the sight of Vivian and Lucas passed out sleeping near the front door. Lucas was a ten-, or maybe eleven-year-old by now, wolf cub that Ryan had adopted. Vivian, a rambunctious jaguar cub who’d been adopted by their Alpha couple—and pretty much everyone else in the pack—was curled up fast asleep in her jaguar form, with Lucas wrapped around her protectively in his lupine form.

  The little boy was huge for a cub his age and Natalia had a feeling he’d one day be an Alpha. The way he acted around Vivian, even for one so young, was with the sort of protective actions of a full-grown wolf.

  A plate with only crumbs on it sat a foot away from them. She smiled at the sight of them. It had been a long time since they’d had cubs on the ranch and she loved the life they brought to it.

  As if sensing her presence, Vivian opened her big, bright green eyes and made a soft p
urring sound at Natalia. Yeah, there was no way she could resist picking the little munchkin up. But when she stepped forward to scoop her up, Lucas wrapped a paw around Vivian’s middle without opening his eyes.

  Vivian made a purring sound and instead of jumping for Natalia, curled back into Lucas’s embrace.

  “He informed me that he’d be mating with her one day.” Ryan’s amused voice made Natalia smile.

  She turned to find her brother-in-law leaning against the now open front door. She’d heard it open but hadn’t wanted to tear her gaze away from these two. There was just something about the sweetness of cubs. It made all the bad shit in the world fade away, at least for a few uninterrupted moments. “They’re so young,” she murmured, shaking her head. “I don’t even want to think about them getting mated.”

  Ryan snorted. “No kidding. His reason was so that they could share each other’s toys all the time.”

  A short laugh burst from her. Thank God that was the only reason Lucas had mentioned mating. They were still babies in her eyes.

  “I kind of want to punch you right now,” she blurted. Now that she understood the sexual frustration her sister had gone through with Ryan, she really wanted to punch him. And Aldric. Mainly Aldric, because her own sexual frustration was making her more than a little crazy. Frustrating alpha males.

  He blinked. “Wait…what?”

  “Never mind. Teresa here?”

  He eyed her warily but shook his head. “No, she’s at December’s.”

  Which meant baby cuddle time. December and Liam’s little girl was just five months old now. “See you later.” She jumped off the front porch. Not only would she get to hold the new baby, she’d get baked goods because December was a baking machine.

  “Tell Teresa to bring me back some cookies.”

  “Okay,” she called over her shoulder.

  She paused halfway across the expanse of land on her way to December and Liam’s when she saw Gloria half-jogging toward her.