She swallowed. Was that the death knell for anything more happening between them?
“I don’t want you to get confused,” he said. “I’ve rescued you and taken care of you, and—”
She snorted. “I’m not a baby. Yes, I’ve worked for you. Yes, you’ve helped me out. But you don’t see me wanting to have sex with Wayne, do you? He helped me too.”
“Um, right,” Wyatt said. “So why do you want to with me, then?”
“Are you kidding?” she asked, folding her arms. “You’re hot. I thought you were gorgeous from the moment I saw you. And then every time you touch me, something happens, something that never happened before.”
“I see,” he said. “But I still can’t take advantage of you.” He shook his head. “We’re going to deal with the people in your way and then you’ll be free to do whatever you want. Go wherever you want. Who knows if you’ll want to stay on some second-rate dude ranch?”
She sighed. “It’s not second rate, and I love it here.”
He closed his eyes slowly and then opened them. “I’ll have to take a mate at some point. For the ranch. To keep it in the family.”
“I figured as much,” she said, though a slight pain went through her at the thought of it.
“Would you want that? To be my mate?” he asked.
“No,” she said. “I don’t want to belong to anyone.”
His expression darkened slightly. “Then I don’t see why we should do this.”
She tightened her small hands into fists. “Because I’ve never had something good like this. I get you’ll need to find the right woman. The one who stays with you forever. But I feel like maybe you could give me something that no one else could. Just a taste of what I’d have had if I hadn’t gotten so screwed up.”
“You aren’t screwed up,” he said, reaching up to touch her face.
She pulled back. “I’m not normal. With men, I mean. But tonight, I felt normal. I wanted to touch you. To hold you. Who knows when that will happen again? Do you think I don’t want to experience those things? That I don’t want to fall in love and have a torrid affair?”
“You’ve been reading those romance novels in the ranch library,” he said with a wry grin.
“I’ve been reading everything I can get my hands on,” she said. “But I know what I want, and if you could give it to me, I promise I won’t ask for more.”
“So what is it you want, exactly?” he asked. “Sex with no strings attached?”
“What I want,” she said, “is for you to show me what I’ve been missing. How beautiful the world can be and how wonderful making love to someone can feel. That’s all. Nothing more.”
He looked like she’d just asked him to build the Eiffel Tower, but he gave a slow nod.
“If that’s really what you want, then I’ll do my best,” he said. “But we’re going to go slow, and you tell me anything you don’t like. And if you want to stop at any time, your wish is my command.”
“Okay,” she said, nodding, her body tingling with anticipation. “Deal.”
10
Holy hell, she was beautiful.
Looking up at him innocently, her lush breasts pressing against the pajama top he’d lent her. Her thickly lashed eyes gazing at him like he was some kind of hero.
He was nobody’s hero. He hadn’t even been going to hire her at first. He still had nightmares about what would have happened to her if he hadn’t followed her to the bar that night and brought her back to the ranch to work for him.
And not just because of what would have happened to her. But because of what she’d meant to him over the past couple months together.
She’d truly made his life feel richer, more colorful. She’d walked into a black-and-white drawing and started filling in the spaces he hadn’t known existed.
He shuddered to think of the day she might decide to walk away. He didn’t blame her for never wanting to be under anyone’s control again. He didn’t blame her for valuing freedom above all else.
But he did sort of blame her for doing this. For seducing him while knowing it couldn’t mean anything permanent for them.
But her plea to help her see what she’d been missing had been the last straw. Had broken his heart wide open. Regardless of the fact that he felt like some kind of lecherous boss for even considering it, he didn’t feel like he had a right to say he knew better than her what was good for her.
And he did want her. And since she was a grown woman, if she asked him, he would give it to her. And make it as good as possible.
Still, as he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against his chest, between his legs, he felt her make a slight tremble. He pulled back immediately.
“Are you all right?” he asked, ready to forget the whole thing in a second if she asked. “Are you sure you want to go through with this after what happened tonight?”
She hissed, put a hand on his chest, and shoved him back onto the bed with a surprising amount of strength. He scooted back in shock until he was fully on the bed and watched in amazement as she sprang on top of him with catlike reflexes.
His eyes narrowed as he looked up at her, straddling him, her blue eyes glowing as she looked down.
“Just give me what I want,” she said, and he grinned.
“Spoken like a true cat,” he murmured, reaching up to catch her waist. It was soft, and her eyes flew open as he gently kneaded the sensitive flesh. “Maybe you’re a little more cat after all.”
Her eyes closed slowly as she let out a luxurious moan as his hand brushed over the waistband of her pants, taking a moment to play with her belly button. “Maybe,” she whispered.
“What do you want now?” he asked.
“To see you,” she said, reaching for the hem of his shirt and pulling it up over his head.
He was surprised by the hunger in her eyes as she looked him over. Then she brought her hands up, felt the width of his shoulders, and dragged her nails lightly over his chest and torso, sending little electric shocks through him.
She might think she was mostly human. But in bed, she was all cat.
He decided to keep that to himself for now, though.
“More,” she said, nearly purring as she pulled at the waistband of his jeans.”
“Um, you’re not going to get those off while you’re on top of me,” he said.
She sighed and climbed off, sitting adorably on the bed beside him and looking at him with expectant eyes.
He stood and played with the button at the front of his jeans. She bit her lip. The heat in the air was palpable. He was slowly becoming aware of an unfamiliar scent. Cinnamon and vanilla. And a hint of musk.
Unbelievably sexy. The cat in him was waking up as well. He undid the button of his jeans and slowly pulled down the zipper. She let out an excited little gasp as he dropped the jeans to the ground and stepped out of them.
He was only in a small pair of boxer briefs, and he saw her eyes dart between his legs, first with a hint of fear, then with an undeniably excited expression.
“It’s big,” she said. “I think it’s much bigger than Lyle’s when he was pressing up against me.”
That cat in him snarled at that. He didn’t want to know she’d ever felt another man touch her. Especially one she didn’t want. He came onto the bed, this time getting over her.
She looked up at him with a shy, aroused expression and a small grin. “Do you think it’ll fit?”
He tilted his head. “How much do you understand about sex?” he asked.
“Well, I know how it works,” she said. “I could guess from the way Lyle was pawing me when he was trying to get his way. But I’ve never done it, obviously.”
Wyatt groaned. Of course she was a virgin. He’d have to be careful. Maybe even skip sex tonight. There was no way she’d be ready. “Maybe we’ll start with something else. Something I think you’ll like,” he said.
“Okay,” she said hesitantly. “I trust you.”
Wyatt fr
oze and then shuddered. Those three words were the greatest turn-on in the world coming from her. She didn’t trust easily, and Wyatt would treat that trust with the utmost care.
He knelt at her feet and grabbed her by the ankles and gently pulled her toward him on the bed until her hips were close to him, her legs spread around him.
Then as her hands wound into the sheets, he caught her with a hand under each leg and lifted her so he could kiss her mound gently while still looking in her eyes.
She gasped, writhing, and he set her down. “What was that?” she asked. “That was—”
“You want me to do it some more?” he asked quietly, aching to get another, closer taste.
She nodded vigorously. He loved the view from here—her breasts, her soft tummy, her wide hips. So perfectly feminine and made to complement his shape. He wondered if he should tell her she was the absolute ideal for shifters.
But then he decided it didn’t matter. All that mattered was the pleasure he was going to give her.
He kissed her again, over the soft, silky pajamas, and tasted more of her scent. Cinnamon. He slipped a finger into the edge of her waistband. She gasped again. “Can I take these off?” he asked. “It feels better with less clothing on.”
She nodded again, looking so eager he had to stifle a laugh. Her eyes were wide, her hands twisted in the covers, her breasts heaving as she breathed. He easily pulled off the pants, leaving her in a simple pair of black cotton panties that he found absolutely irresistible.
“I’m sorry I don’t have anything pretty,” she said, biting her lip and looking up at him with big eyes.
He snorted. “This is pretty,” he said, running his finger over the top of the panties. “This is also pretty,” he said, smoothing his hand over the curve of her rounded ass. “This is gorgeous,” he said, making a gesture with his hand over the whole of her body. “I’m the luckiest man in the world right now, and I hope you know it.”
She flushed with warmth, writhing in his hands, and he raised an eyebrow. “Ready for more?”
“Always,” she said. “Give me absolutely everything.”
“Everything I can,” he said, placing another kiss at her center that made her jerk against him. “Everything I can, sweetheart.”
* * *
Valerie couldn’t believe the feelings rushing through her. Hot, searing, powerful.
She couldn’t believe she was here, with Wyatt holding her up, kissing her between her legs in a way that was so intimate it made her hold her breath. His blond hair was tousled, his eyes wicked, like cat’s eyes in the semidarkness. There was a lamp on in the corner, just enough light to throw the room into dim, glowing warmth.
It was perfect for illuminating his golden beauty, as if by candlelight. She could make out every one of his abs and the junctures of his beautiful, sculpted muscles. Where his shoulder muscles dipped down and touched bulging biceps. Where his abs ended surrounded by deeply etched lines that went down his hips and into his briefs.
And she badly wanted to see what was under those briefs.
He was in total control right now, lifting her with his hands, pleasuring her in a way she hadn’t known possible, yet there was a powerful rush surging through her because she was really the one in control. He was doing this at her request and checking with her at any moment for what she wanted.
And as much as she thought it might be hot to just let him take control, she knew being careful right now was best.
Besides, it felt amazing, and that was all that mattered.
More than amazing, it just felt right. Like she was always meant to be here, doing this incredibly healing thing with him.
His deft hands were smooth as he held her, and she found herself marveling at his beauty. His long, strong, capable fingers. His tall torso, his strong, lean legs. That face with the planes and angles that made him look like a magazine model more than a rancher.
That satisfied little smirk he got whenever he made her moan, and then the concern in his eyes whenever she did something unexpected, like jerk against him.
It was all wonderful, as was the feeling building inside her at his pleasant, erotic kisses.
But she wanted more. She writhed against him, trying to tell him that, and he raised an eyebrow.
“You said it would be better with less on,” she gasped. “Do you think… maybe…?” She blushed deeply as she said it, drawing his grin.
“You read my mind,” he said. The next moment, he’d torn the panties away. They were just gone, with no pain to her.
She wondered if he’d used his claws. She grinned.
Then his mouth found her, and she lost all rational thought. She couldn’t think about how beautiful he was, how amazing it felt, or how odd the universe was for putting them together.
All she could focus on was white-hot pleasure lacing through her like lightning with every movement of his tongue.
“Do you want me inside you?” he asked against her, his lips brushing her in unbearably sensitive ways.
“Yes,” she cried out, gripping the sheets as he kissed her again, his tongue swirling over her and making her almost too hot to bear. “Yes, I want everything.”
“We’ll start with this,” he said, bringing her legs up over his shoulders so he had his hands free. She felt him touch at her entrance, lightly teasing.
“Oh,” she moaned. “Yes.” That was where she wanted him. All of him. Not just his finger, but that big, thick thing between his—
Then his finger pressed slowly inside her. She was slick and wet, and he went in easily. She waited for a moment as the foreign sensation swept through her. It was pleasant but slightly… disappointing.
Then he began to move, pushing up gently against the inside and hitting a spot she hadn’t known existed. She squeaked in shock at the powerful feeling it caused and then bit her lip as his mouth came over her just above that in a searing, sensual kiss. Wet and soft and exploring as his tongue stroked over her achingly sensitive clit.
“Oh, Val, you’re so beautiful. I can’t even believe you’re here with me,” he said, his lips teasing her as he spoke. Then he dove in again, moving in and out with his finger as his lips found her center over and over again.
She felt it again, that pressure building inside her like the force of something being shaken and ready to explode. She tensed her muscles in anticipation, wondering what was on the other side, slightly fearful of it.
She tossed her head side to side. “Wyatt, I don’t… What is…?”
“It’s okay, sweetheart,” he said. “You’re going to love it. It’s going to feel so good.”
She shook her head. “It’s too strong.”
He laughed and gave one long stroke up the middle, sending her another step toward the edge. “That’s a good thing.”
She tensed as the feeling surged forward, and he raised his head.
“If you want me to stop,” he said.
“No!” she snapped. “Get back to it and let me see what the damned thing feels like.”
He grinned and did as she said. But now there was a voraciousness to his movements, and he added another finger, stroking in and out as his mouth kissed her hard, sucking and swirling with his tongue as she felt the peak finally reach her.
She felt like she was poised at the beginning of a long drop and, for a second, wanted desperately for something to steady her. But then that white, blank feeling transformed into unbelievably strong pleasure, coming through her in waves that filled her from head to toe as she arched back and closed her eyes to just revel in it.
The feeling was amazing. She could see why people lived for it. Why they were desperate for it. It was unlike anything in the world. Like flying and falling at the same time. Like something no human was good enough to feel.
But she did, and she let it run through her, clenching her body, convulsing her muscles, tightening her toes.
So this was joy.
And Wyatt had shown her.
She finall
y opened her eyes to look up at him, still glazed with wonder as little trembles of pleasure moved through her.
“That was… that was…”
“That was only the beginning of what I can do for you,” he said, narrowing his eyes as he moved down to take her again with his mouth.
Somehow, she didn’t know how she’d ever be able to stop getting this now that she’d had it.
The thought was troubling, but not enough to stop her from moaning and encouraging Wyatt to keep going.
* * *
Watching Valerie orgasm had been the most addictive feeling Wyatt had ever known.
So he’d given her three more and then lowered her gently to the bed, reading the signs of overwhelmed exhaustion in her body.
They wouldn’t be having sex tonight. He’d known that from the moment he’d stroked inside her wet heat and felt how tight it was. How small.
But he’d loved giving her pleasure all the same.
She writhed slightly into the covers and sighed in satisfaction. She was prettily flushed from the exertion and looked like a cat who’d gotten into the cream. All the cream she could possibly want.
But then she opened her blue eyes and looked up at him hungrily. Her gaze darted between his legs, and he shook his head.
He came forward and gathered her up in his arms and sat against headboard with her in his lap. He pressed a kiss to the top of her head, unable to resist.
She was glowing with sweat and exertion but seemed extremely pleased, and the cat in him purred with pride.
And screamed its ownership.
But he told it to shut up and not ruin things. Valerie had made things clear from the start that she wasn’t looking for that, and Wyatt would give her everything she wanted, but no more.
“Is that it tonight?” she asked, sounding a little disappointed.
“Listen to your body,” he said. “Do you really think more is a good idea.”
She sighed and relaxed against him. “I guess not. I’m a little sore and tired, I guess. I didn’t know orgasms could make you so relaxed. So… limp.”
Mountain Lion (Bear Haven Book 4) Page 7