“You can use me as your guinea pig any time you want,” he said huskily. “And I’m sure you’ll be more than satisfied with the results.”
If they hadn’t been in a car, driving on the road, Ryann would’ve unclipped her seatbelt and thrown herself on top of Dirk. Her pussy grew wet as her imagination ran wild with all the things she would do to him to test her theory. She was so very tempted to tell him to turn the car around and go back to her apartment, to forget about Roxie’s dinner invitation. And from the tight expression on Dirk’s face, she had a feeling he’d have no problem going along with it.
His knuckles turned white as he gripped the steering wheel tighter. “God, you have no idea how much you’re killing me here. If it were anyone else but Roxie, I’d be saying the hell with it.”
“She wouldn’t understand?”
“Not even close.” He reached across and squeezed her leg. “We’ll get this over with, then leave shortly after the meal’s done.”
“I’m going to hold you to that.”
Dirk put on his indicator to turn left before he pulled into a gated drive. He rolled down his window and punched in a series of numbers on the security pad located near the entrance and the black, iron gate swung open.
“You must come here a lot, if you know the code to get in,” she said.
“There are times I practically feel as if I live here, especially when Roxie was helping me set up the website.”
Dirk drove up the long drive, then parked in front of the garage next to a black Chevy Camaro. Once he turned off the car, Ryann got out and walked around to Dirk’s side. He took her hand and linked their fingers together as he guided her over to the mansion’s front door. It’d been years since she’d walked with a man like this. She’d actually missed it.
Dirk didn’t bother to knock and just walked inside. He called, “Rox?”
“We’re in the living room, Dirk,” a woman answered.
Still walking hand in hand, Ryann allowed Dirk to move her in the direction the voice had come from. Once they stepped inside the room, the two sets of couples already there seemed to turn their gazes directly on her. She found it a bit disconcerting to be the center of attention to a bunch of people she’d never met. They didn’t stare at her in a mean way, more of a curious one.
As they came closer, a woman with long, golden brown hair got up from the couch where she’d sat with a man with longish, black hair. She headed straight for Ryann with a big, friendly smile on her face.
“It’s nice to finally meet you, Ryann,” the woman said when she came to stand in front of her. “Dirk’s talked a lot about you these last couple of weeks. I’m Roxie.”
Ryann returned her smile. “I can say the same about you.”
“Well, don’t just stand there. I’ll introduce you to the others.”
Dirk and Ryann followed Roxie over to the two couches. Once they were all seated, Roxie made the introductions. Ryann learned that the man with the black hair was Roxie’s husband, Beowulf. The other two people were Jager and Daylen, another husband and wife.
She couldn’t help but stare a bit at Jager and Beowulf. The two men were tall, muscular and had supermodel looks just like Dirk. Their spouses were pretty, but didn’t look like models found on a fashion runway. Ryann was thankful for that. At least, she wouldn’t stick out like a sore thumb when it came to the looks department.
Ryann had just sat back as Dirk put his arm around her shoulders when Jager said, “So, have the two of you slept together yet?”
“Jager!” both Daylen and Roxie said sharply at the same time.
“What?” he asked. “I know you’re both dying to know, well, at least Roxie is.”
Daylen shook her head and rolled her eyes. “Just ignore him, Ryann. My husband has the bad habit of saying whatever the hell’s on his mind, regardless of how bad it sounds coming out of his mouth.”
With his long, light brown hair pulled back in a ponytail and tough looking exterior, he had the appearance of a man you wouldn’t want to meet in a dark alley. Jager’s expression softened, showing the feelings he had for his wife when he looked at Daylen. “And that’s part of the reason why you love me,” he said with a smile.
Next to Ryann, Dirk groaned. “As another person who lives in the same house as you, I can definitely say it doesn’t make me want to love you. Sometimes it actually has the opposite effect.”
As the others laughed at Dirk’s quip, Ryann turned her head to look at him. “Jager and Daylen are your roommates? I thought you lived alone.”
The laughter petered out as he answered her. “They’re not roommates, more like family. I like to think of them as the siblings I never had. Along with the others we live with.”
“There are more than just the three of you?”
Dirk nodded. “Altogether, including the new baby Jaden and Leif are expecting, there are eleven of us.”
Ryann looked at him, feeling very much surprised. “That’s one big family. I don’t know if I could live with that many people. I’m so used to it just being Tyler and me.”
“Don’t worry, Ryann,” Jager said. “You’ll think nothing of it once you’ve moved in.” He grunted when his wife elbowed him in the side.
“Would you shut up, Jager,” Daylen said. She then looked at Ryann. “Like I said before, ignore him. Who’s Tyler?”
Ryann couldn’t help the smile that formed. “He’s my three-year-old son.” She quickly added, “I’m divorced.”
“Where is he now?” Roxie asked. “You could’ve brought him along instead of leaving him with a sitter. We have plenty of room here for him to sleep, if and when he got tired.”
“He’s with his dad for the weekend.”
“Oh, so you don’t have to rush back home?”
“I suppose not,” Ryann said, though getting Dirk alone again was something she planned to do as soon as she could without being rude.
Roxie stood. “I think the food should be done. Why don’t the rest of you head to the dining room while I get everything ready to serve?”
“Do you need any help, Rox?” Daylen asked.
“Nope, I’m good.”
Once Roxie left, Beowulf got up and led the rest of them to the dining area. The table was long, more than enough room for six people to sit comfortably. A dark blue tablecloth covered it, and it had already been set.
Coming through another doorway at the other end of the room that must be connected to the kitchen, Roxie came in carrying a large pan of piping hot lasagna. She placed it on the center of the table on a cooling rack. She took off the oven mitts she wore before she said, “I’ll just get the garlic bread, then we can dish up.”
The smell of garlic preceded Roxie when she returned. Ryann’s stomach growled in anticipation. She had a weakness for Italian food. All heads turned her way, and she blushed. She hadn’t thought the sound of her stomach grumbling had been that loud.
She looked at Roxie. “It smells delicious. I guess I’m hungrier than I thought.”
“Well, help yourself, and eat as much as you want. I made lots.”
No one spoke as the food was dished up on their plates. Once she had hers, Ryann picked up her piece of garlic bread and took a bite. It was really good, so was the lasagna when she had some of that.
While they ate, a large bottle of red wine was passed around, everyone filling the wineglass next to their plate. And as the meal progressed, it went around a second time. Once that was emptied and another bottle had been opened, Ryann knew there was no way she’d be able to keep up with the others at the table. Two glasses were her max, especially if she wanted to remain sober for later. She wasn’t one of those drunks who could liven up a party. No, finding a corner somewhere and going to sleep was more her style. She doubted Dirk would enjoy that.
When the food was all gone and everyone was on their fifth glass of wine—not that any of them appeared to feel the effects of the alcohol—Ryann was still amazed by how much they’d had. It also mad
e her think that Dirk really couldn’t be in any condition to drive. And after having her two glasses, she didn’t want to get behind the wheel either.
Trying not to be too blatant about it, she leaned toward Dirk, and whispered, “When you want to leave, I think we should call a cab. Neither one of us should be driving.”
He smiled and replied just as quietly, “I’m fine. I can drive.”
“I don’t know if that’s such a good idea. We don’t need you to get a DUI.”
From the end of the table, Roxie said, “Ryann’s right, Dirk. You don’t need one of those. You two can stay over. So can Jager and Daylen.” Her gaze seemed to lock on Dirk’s. “I insist.”
“Really?” Dirk asked. “You’re going to be like this?”
Roxie smiled. “I’m afraid so. I told you I was going to watch you.”
Ryann got the distinct impression she was missing out on part of what Dirk and Roxie’s conversation really meant. She had a feeling it all didn’t have to do with Dirk driving while under the influence. But she didn’t say anything.
“Fine,” Dirk said with a sigh. “I guess we’ll be staying the night.” He turned to Ryann. “You don’t mind, do you?”
She shook her head. “If you want to stay, I’m fine with it.”
There was no way she’d pass up the chance to actually spend the entire night with Dirk in a bed. It didn’t matter where it was, so long as he was in it.
Chapter Six
After dinner, Dirk kept shooting Roxie looks that let her know he wasn’t exactly thrilled with what she’d done. He hadn’t counted on having to stay the night at her place with Ryann. Actually, he hadn’t planned on spending the entire night with Ryann at all. It would just be asking too much of him. He was only a man, and with the mating urge riding his ass, the desire to make love to his mate would be extremely hard to resist.
Well, Roxie had just made sure he was put in a situation that he, and especially she, wanted to avoid. He could’ve driven without having to worry about blowing over. All his kind metabolized alcohol differently than mortals. For him to be in the range where he’d get nailed with a DUI, he’d had to have been drinking all day. And Roxie knew that, being a werewolf herself.
Not that he could’ve told Ryann any of this, since she had no clue what he was, or the fact that she was spending her evening with a bunch of werewolves. Though with Jager around, and never knowing what he’d say next, he could let the truth slip. And that was not how Dirk wanted Ryann to find out.
Dirk probably would’ve enjoyed the evening better if he didn’t feel so on edge. And it didn’t help matters that Roxie watched him like a hawk, as if he’d take Ryann to the floor and claim her right there in front of everyone. The only good thing was that Ryann didn’t seem to notice.
She’d warmed up to everyone as if she’d known them for a long time. Roxie and she talked about their kids, while Ryann had Daylen talking about her days as a police officer. She’d even had Beowulf telling her about Wulf’s Den, and Jager about swords, though Ryann thought he was just a collector. She had no idea that his brother-in-arms was rarely without his sword strapped around his waist. Even though Jager wasn’t wearing it right now, that didn’t mean it wasn’t stashed somewhere close by. At one time, before meeting Daylen, he used to sleep with the damn thing tucked in beside him in his bed.
Once it grew late enough for everyone to call it a night, Dirk was more than anxious to get Ryann alone. And from the heated looks she’d sent his way when no one was looking, he knew she felt the same way.
Dirk stood and turned before he offered Ryann his hand. She quickly took it and let him help her to her feet. “I guess we’ll see you all in the morning,” he said, wanting to make a fast getaway. “We’ll take the room I normally use when I stay over.”
Roxie stopped Dirk and Ryann before they’d taken more than a couple of steps toward the living room’s entrance. “Are you sure that’s what Ryann wants to do? She might feel more comfortable in a room by herself.”
He turned and scowled at Roxie. “That won’t be necessary.” He then looked at Ryann. “You’re fine with sharing a bed with me, right?”
Ryann nodded. “I don’t mind staying with Dirk.”
“Are you sure? We have enough rooms if—”
Beowulf cut her off. “Enough already, Rox. Let it go.”
Using the opportunity to leave before Roxie thought of something else to say, Dirk steered Ryann out of the room. Once they were out of sight, he scooped her up in his arms, and with a tiny burst of werewolf speed, took the stairs to the upper level two at a time. Ryann giggled as she wrapped her arms around his neck and held on.
After stepping into the bedroom and flipping on the light, Dirk quietly closed the door behind them and turned the lock. He wouldn’t put it past Roxie to try to barge in. That done, he put Ryann on her feet. She kept her arms around his neck and shifted so she was pressed to the front of him from chest to knees. The scent of her arousal bloomed around them. His cock hardened in an instant.
“I’ve been dying to do this all night,” Ryann said in a husky voice.
She went on tiptoe and took his mouth in a heated kiss. Her tongue pushed between his lips, stroking his. She tasted of the wine they’d been drinking. Her fingers curled into his hair at his nape. Dirk ground his aching cock against Ryann, making them both moan.
His hunger rising for the woman who would be his mate, Dirk went to wrap his arms around her, but Ryann had other plans. She broke their kiss and pushed him back against the door with a hard shove. It banged when he made contact with it. Then she was on him again.
Lifting the front of his t-shirt with one hand, Ryann dragged the flat of her tongue along his pec. Nimble fingers worked on the button and zipper on his pants, and soon were inside them, wrapping around his thick shaft. She pumped him, forcing another groan that bordered on a wolf-like growl. He tried to take hold of her, but she shoved him once more, which made the door bang again.
Taking the hint that she wanted him to stay right where he was, Dirk watched Ryann slowly go down on her knees in front of him. His breath sawed in and out of his lungs while his heart beat at a rapid pace when she jerked his jeans down far enough to spring his cock.
He couldn’t tear his gaze off her. The sight of her opening her mouth and taking his dick inside had him wanting to howl in pleasure. The feel of her sucking him just about did him in. Desire surged through him, his cock hardening even more.
The door rattled at his back as someone knocked on it. Knowing full well who that someone was, Dirk ignored her. He just prayed she’d take the hint and go away.
“Dirk,” Roxie said through the door, “you better not be doing something you shouldn’t in there.”
Ryann swirled her tongue around the head of his cock before she sucked him almost to the back of her throat. Dirk couldn’t hold back the growl that rumbled out of his chest. He definitely wasn’t doing anything he shouldn’t. It felt too fucking perfect.
Through gritted teeth, he said, “Go away, Roxie. Now’s not a good time.” The last word ended on a moan. Ryann had started to fondle his balls. “Definitely not now.”
“Dirk, open this door.”
“Go. Away. Roxie.”
If she didn’t leave him alone, Dirk wasn’t going to be responsible for what he did. The grip he had on his control was tenuous at best. And Roxie wasn’t helping matters, to say the least. But much to Dirk’s relief, he heard Beowulf’s voice next.
“Rox, what did I say about doing something like this?” Beowulf asked. “You’re taking it a little too far.”
“I just want to make sure he plays by the rules.”
“I think I need to show you how pleasurable it can be when you don’t.”
Dirk heard Roxie let out a little shriek, then Beowulf’s heavier footsteps walking away down the hall. It wasn’t hard to guess that Beowulf had slung his mate over his shoulder and carried her away, something he did when Roxie was prone to not listen to
him.
On the brink of coming, Dirk tugged on Ryann’s shoulder to get her to release his cock before he pulled her up on her feet. It was his turn to pleasure her. In a move Beowulf had just used on Roxie, Dirk picked up Ryann and swung her over his shoulder. He crossed the short distance to the bed and flipped her onto the mattress. She giggled as she bounced.
He grabbed hold of Ryann’s legs and pulled her down to the end of the bed to where he stood. He undid her jeans and peeled them off her. Hooking his fingers in the waistband of her panties, Dirk slowly removed that article of clothing.
Staring at her pussy, seeing her juices on her inner thighs, he licked his lips. “Now I get to eat what I’ve been craving.”
Dirk knelt on the floor and used his hands to push her legs farther apart. Her pussy was pink and swollen with arousal. He dragged a finger through her wetness before he swirled it around her clit.
Ryann lifted her hips. “More. Give me more.”
“Don’t worry, babe. I will.”
He lapped at her slick opening, enjoying the taste of her on his tongue. His cock throbbed in time with his rapidly beating heart, aching to be buried deep inside Ryann’s wet heat. It beat at him, making him clamp down even harder on his control.
Using two of his fingers, Dirk pushed them inside her pussy, pumping them in and out. Ryann’s cries of passion rang in his ears as she matched him stroke for stroke. Her inner muscles clamped around his digits, her juices coating them as he worked her.
He sucked and licked her clit, and when it seemed as if she hovered close to the edge, he pushed her higher, stroking her G-spot. Ryann cried out, her body clenching around his fingers.
Dirk rose to his feet and climbed onto the bed. Still breathing heavy, Ryann pushed back until she was in the center of the mattress. She tore off her shirt and quickly shed her bra. He ran his gaze over her, getting even more turned-on by her nakedness.
She then turned to him, inching closer on her knees. If Ryann had been a werewolf, he would’ve sworn she was stalking him, from the way she held his gaze, moving slowly.
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