“You’ve already painted a pretty bizarre picture.” Kelly allowed herself to be led toward the door. “I can’t imagine that anything they’ll have to say tomorrow will make much more of a difference.”
Once back in the crowded other room, Kelly spotted Mac easily. Arms crossed, he stood apart from the others, listening, his expression watchful. As soon as he saw her, he appeared to relax slightly.
She hurried over. “I’d like to go,” she said.
He studied her for a moment, unsmiling. “You don’t want to visit with the rest of your family?”
A quick glance around the room was almost too much to bear. “No.” She took his arm. “I’ll see them all tomorrow.”
Finally, he inclined his head. “If that’s what you want.”
Outside in the hallway, she felt like her legs couldn’t carry her away fast enough. She didn’t want to actually run—good Lord, how much would that reveal?—but she got to the elevator as quickly as she could, pressing the down button.
Mac came up behind her. “I take it that didn’t go well?”
She shrugged, and then her effort at nonchalance crumbled. Facing the still-closed elevator doors, she struggled to regain her composure.
With a discreet ping, the elevator arrived and the doors opened. Hurrying inside, she blindly punched the button for their floor, keeping her profile averted.
“Are you all right?” he asked. The concern in his voice nearly undid her.
“Yes.” She swallowed. “Actually, no. I’m not. I don’t know why I’m so upset.” Sniffing, she finally swung her gaze up to meet his. “I don’t know what I expected, but this wasn’t…”
“Enough to make up for all the time spent missing her?”
“Exactly!” Amazed that he’d gotten it so easily, she managed a smile, even if it felt a bit wobbly around the edges.
“So what’s on the agenda now?”
Quelling the instant flash of suspicion, she shrugged. “Nothing until the meeting tomorrow.”
“And everyone will be in attendance?” he asked, his tone a bit too casual.
“Every adult,” she said, then as the elevator reached their floor, she touched his arm. “No children. I’m sorry.”
As they stepped out into the hallway, he swore softly. She debated telling him what she knew about his kids, but decided to wait. Right now the stakes were too high. When this was all finished, then she’d let him know exactly how difficult it would be to track them down and offer to help him find them. For now, she couldn’t take any chances.
“Kelly?” Grabbing her arm, he turned her to face him. “Do you know where they are?”
Slowly, she shook her head.
“If you find out anything, anything at all relating to their location, will you give me your word to let me know?”
The elevator doors opened. An older couple, arms around each other’s waists, stood waiting to enter. Kelly pushed past them, shaking Mac’s hold off her arm and striding down the hall ahead of him.
He caught her easily. “Don’t think you’re getting off without answering me,” he told her.
“I don’t know what to say.”
Shock and fury blazing in his eyes, he grabbed her and yanked her up close. “How can you not?” he ground out. “These are my children, Kelly. My family, all I have left.” His voice broke. “I love them. I need them. Your people had no right to take them from me.”
As she stared up at him, her chest tight with the certain knowledge that he was right, she knew two things. First off, she’d do everything, even risk her life, to help him get his kids back.
And second, she was about to kiss him.
Chapter 9
Feeling bold, driven by some kind of senseless passion that momentarily prevented her from feeling fear or worry or self-consciousness, Kelly pushed herself up on her tiptoes and touched her mouth softly, tentatively, to his.
For a moment he only stood frozen. Then, as she moved her lips gently over his, savoring him, she tasted him with her tongue. Still motionless, he made a guttural sound, low in his throat, and encouraged, emboldened, she continued.
Though she felt sure her lack of practice was obvious, she used her tongue to push and tease, acting completely on instinct. She must have done something right. He blazed to life, kissing her back as though his life depended on it.
So this was how it was supposed to be, she thought happily. All the romance novels she’d read over the years had been telling the truth. She could lose herself in a kiss like this. It went on and on and on. She thought she’d died and gone to heaven.
Suddenly, he appeared to come to his senses. Breaking their lip-lock, he inhaled sharply and backed up against the door to their room.
“Kelly,” he ground out, his breathing harsh and fast, his pupils dilated. “No fair. At all.”
She gave him a slow smile, feeling a rush of confidence in the knowledge that she had the power to arouse him as strongly as he did her. Trying to act nonchalant, she unlocked the door and led the way inside.
“I want to kiss you again,” she said, her voice husky. “Right now.”
“No.” Gripping both her arms, he resolutely held her away. “No more kissing.”
Disappointed, she nodded, unable to keep from feeling hurt.
“While I have to admit you’re distracting as hell,” he continued, “we were talking about me getting my children back. That’s more important to me.”
“Of course.” She nodded again. Despite her disappointment, she couldn’t help but admire his resolve. Though her entire body burned and tingled, she took a deep breath, trying to regain her sense of balance. All she could think about was how absolutely wonderful his kiss had been and how badly she wanted to kiss him again. She pushed the thought away.
“The twins are mine and they need me.” Meeting her gaze, he held it. “Kelly, I have to know if you’re on my side or not.”
Stunned, at first she was taken aback. But she realized he was absolutely right. Of course he would focus on his children. “Until now, I never questioned the rules. They just were. While I never understood why Tearlach children had to be hidden and protected, I believed that was how things had to be.”
“And now?”
Was that hope shining from his eyes? “Now I think you are right. You’re their father. You miss them. You know, in all this struggling for control, I’ll bet no one has thought about what the twins are feeling. They must be frightened and sad and missing you horribly.”
A shadow of pain flickered in his eyes. “I imagine they believe I’ve abandoned them. First their mother died, and now I’ve disappeared from their lives.”
Sounded familiar. Just like her own life had been.
“And they’re being shuttled around by unfamiliar people to unfamiliar places, when all they want is their daddy to put his arms around them and tell them everything is going to be all right.”
He stared at her, a muscle working in his jaw. “You speak as though you know them.”
“Not them.” She smiled sadly. “But I have been in their situation. After my father died, my entire world was taken from me and I was passed along from foster family to foster family. Oh, sure, my mother claims she vetted them all quite carefully, but that doesn’t matter to a young teen who only wants her mom and her dad.”
Mac had gone completely, utterly still. “So what are you saying?”
“I will help you,” she told him, wiping at her eyes and bringing her chin up proudly. “To the best of my abilities. If there’s any way for us to find your son and daughter, I will help you do so.”
Now he took a step forward, his dark gaze locked on hers. “Give me your word,” he whispered harshly.
And she wanted him again. Just like that, her sadness was replaced by desire. She licked her lips and felt gratified at the hungry way his gaze followed the movement.
Feeling bolder and more brazen by the second, she moved closer, until they once again stood inches apart.
&
nbsp; “I will help you. You have my word,” she promised, desire making her voice husky. “I will do whatever I can to help you bring your children back to you.”
At her words he made a low sound, a cross between a groan and a cry. He crushed her to him, slanting his mouth over hers, asking for another sort of promise with the hard possessiveness of his kiss.
She melted against him, body tingling, pulse leaping. Her last coherent thought as he deepened the kiss was to wonder if now would be the time, if he’d possess her and in doing so seal the bargain they’d made by speaking the words of binding.
Skimming his hands down her side, he caressed the curve of her waist, the side of her breast. Just enough to tease and make her eager for more.
When he took her hands and guided them to touch him, she let herself explore his flat abs, toying with the waist of his jeans, almost afraid to touch the ridge of swollen flesh that strained against her. Finally, he pressed against her and she had no choice.
“Touch me,” he urged. And so she did.
“Oh,” she said, shocked and intrigued and exhilarated all at once. Then, unable to keep from feeling it again, she grinned up at him. “I like.”
After a moment of what must have been shock, he laughed. A warm, masculine guffaw that, she thought, contained both amusement and affection. If she hadn’t seen the heat blazing from his darkened eyes, she would have been confused.
“I’m glad,” he told her, pulling her in for a full-body hug.
She gasped as the full strength of his arousal pressed against her. He was huge! Was this normal? Her body tingled and she felt dizzy. Suddenly afraid, she swallowed.
“Are you all right?” he murmured.
With a nod, she pushed away her fear and concentrated on her desire instead. She wanted this man, even though he wasn’t a Tearlach and her mating with him was strictly forbidden. They were already bound by words and the time had come to make the binding permanent.
Tomorrow, she knew, her family might try to take him from her. If she wanted to make sure this wouldn’t happen, she knew what she had to do.
Plus, a little niggling voice inside her told her she was looking for any excuse to do what she really wanted to do.
Make love with Mac. No sacrifice, that. A bit terrifying, but only if she thought too much.
Then he kissed her again, deep and passionate, and she forgot about ulterior motives and worrying and fear. She forgot about anything but desire and need and the gloriously hard, muscular body of the man in front of her.
Her knees trembled as he skimmed his hands under her shirt, cupping her breast. She couldn’t breathe as he lifted her shirt over her head, helping her out of it, and her heart pounded as he removed her bra.
Should she speak, should she move? Surely there must be something she should do with her hands.
Was she supposed to feel this self-conscious?
Briefly, she wished there was someone she could have asked, someone with whom to share stories, swap anecdotes.
But there wasn’t and, as usual, she’d have to wing it.
Shivering, she could only hope she didn’t make too many mistakes.
“Are you cold?” he murmured, lips against her skin. Then, before she could answer, his mouth closed over her nipples, sending heat waves ricocheting into her core. He moved his mouth from her breast, searing a path up her neck. “All right?” Lifting his head, gazing into her eyes, he waited for her to answer.
Struck dumb, she nodded. Suddenly it seemed wrong that she was half-naked while he was fully clothed. She wanted to feel his skin, explore his muscles, his hardness, especially there. Desire made her dizzy.
Fumbling, she plucked at the buttons on his shirt, making him chuckle.
“Let me help you.” With a few quick motions, he had the thing open. Breathing quickly, she slid her hands under the cotton, touching warm, bronzed skin. He sucked in his breath as she stroked his nipples.
Then he shrugged out of the shirt, watching her, eyes dark with desire, waiting to see what she’d do next.
“Your belt,” she managed. “It’s got to go.” Somehow, though her hands were shaking, she managed to unbuckle it, tugging the leather through the belt loops. She kept getting distracted by the telltale bulge of his growing arousal.
Acting on instinct—which really, was all she had to go on—she got his jeans unbuttoned, but hesitated at the zipper. To pull this down would necessitate possibly hurting him.
To her chagrin, he realized this and helped her out. Stepping out of his flip-flops first, the jeans followed. He kicked them aside, standing completely and utterly naked in front of her, fully aroused.
She couldn’t tear her gaze away from him.
“You next,” he said softly, reminding her she still wore her jeans and, underneath, her panties.
Her face flamed as she began clumsily to remove her jeans.
“Let me.” He kissed her again and she gratefully lost herself in the heat his mouth generated.
The back of her legs bumped up on the edge of the large bed. She froze again, wondering what to do next, when he bumped her and saved her from making the choice.
She fell back, glad she’d pulled back the down quilt earlier, sinking into the soft cotton sheets. As he loomed over her, looking huge and aroused and, oh, so male, she shivered again, though whether from fear or desire, she couldn’t tell.
As she gazed up at him her mixed emotions must have shone in her eyes because he went still.
“Kelly?” Husky with desire, his voice made her insides do somersaults. “Are you all right?”
Realizing she would have to push him past her inexperience, she reached for him, pulling him down to her. “I will be,” she told him, hoping he couldn’t see her inner trepidation.
Evidently, he could. “What’s wrong? I can practically scent the fear coming from you. Tell me.”
Of course he could. He was a shifter, after all. For the space of a moment, she wondered if she should tell him. From what she’d heard, each man reacted differently to learning they would be the first. Some found it a powerful aphrodisiac. Others turned and ran away as fast as they could.
Heart pounding in her chest, she opened her mouth, trying to find the right words. After all, he was going to find out sooner or later.
“I…” Making a motion with her hands, she tried to convey her confusion without words.
He kissed her again, gently this time, holding his aroused body apart from her, touching her only with his mouth. She could feel the heat emanating from him and longed to curl into him like a purring cat in a patch of sunlight.
As he kissed her, sensually seductive without demanding, she changed her mind. She would not tell him with words; she didn’t want to take the chance that he would call upon some misplaced sense of honor and refuse to mate with her.
When he tried to raise his head to end the kiss, she wouldn’t let him. Instead, she pulled him to her, moving her body against his suggestively. To her shock, the movements meant to seduce him enflamed her own desire, making her burn.
“Please,” she managed, caressing him all over except the one place she most longed to touch. “I need you.”
Still he hesitated, as though unsure himself. Taking a deep breath, she reached out and curled her hand around the hard length of him, stroking.
He let out a moan, surging against her. “Kelly…”
Suddenly, none of it mattered. Not her lack of experience, his past or the future with the big meeting tomorrow. Right now, she wanted him. Inside her, filling her, making love to her.
Savagely, she swung herself up, aware there might be some pain, but beyond caring. Settling over him, her femininity drawn to his masculinity like a flower draws a bee, she went up, then down, impaling herself on the turgid length of him.
Inside her, something tore and she froze.
“Oh,” she said, uncertain how to cope with such a sharp pain.
Reacting to her assault with a savagery of his own, he p
ushed against her, past the barrier and filling her completely. And back. Then again. In the rush of warmth that followed, the pain began to fade, replaced by something else, something delicious and wonderful.
She gasped, then his mouth found hers and she forgot to even think. Reveling in her own sensuality, she let go, becoming nothing but sensation, unable to tell where she left off and he began.
Her climax took her completely by surprise. It crept up on her, building and building, making her want more, as she writhed against him, matching him stroke for stroke, until everything shattered in a powerful explosion.
A moment later, Mac followed suit, collapsing against her and groaning. Wrapping her in his arms, he held her close, until his breathing slowed enough to speak.
Then, raising himself up on one elbow, he lifted her chin and made her look at him. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Deliciously sated, she gave him a small smile. “I was going to, but I just didn’t know how. And then…”
“Things went too fast.” He looked positively grim.
“Don’t do that,” she said, kissing him. “I have no regrets. I wanted to do this.”
Still, he moved restlessly, though he kept his arms around her. “I would have done it differently if I’d known it was your first time.”
Intrigued, she tilted her head and looked up at him. “How so?”
“I’d have taken more time and gone much more slowly. Most of all, I’d have made sure you weren’t hurt.”
She pondered this. “I’m a little sore, but not unpleasantly so.”
“There’s blood on the sheets.” He pointed.
So there were a few tiny spots. They’d wash out. All she could do was shrug. “I’ve been told that often happens on the first time. No worries.” She kissed him again, this time a long, lingering kiss that left them both breathless.
“If you keep that up, we’ll be doing it again,” he warned.
Grinning, she nodded. “I’m up for that.”
“Not the first time, you aren’t. You’d be way too sore tomorrow.” He gave her a quick kiss. “Let’s go to sleep. You have a big day ahead tomorrow.”
Pack 11 - Wolf Whisperer Page 12