by Unknown
“I’m afraid of nothing,” Caleb replied gruffly, his eyes lit up with fire.
“And then, after all those years of keeping your distance from me, you waltz back into my house, give me the greatest pleasure I’ve ever known, making me feel all sorts of things that a woman shouldn’t have to feel and then leave without so much as a goodbye.” Tears shimmered in her green eyes now. “I don’t know why you think I deserve this, but I don’t. My heart isn’t your plaything, Caleb.”
“Do you think I don’t know that?” He wanted to wipe away the tears that had trickled down her cheeks, but he knew that she wouldn’t welcome his touch right now. “And do you have any idea how hard it was for me to stay away from you all of these years? The reason I looked at you that way was because every time we crossed paths, I could scent your desire for me. It was torture, knowing that you wanted me just as much as I wanted you, and being unable to touch you. And then seeing you with those other guys… it’s a small wonder I didn’t lose my sanity.”
Paige’s eyes had gone wide. “You… you can smell arousal? What do you mean?” Her cheeks colored.
Caleb’s eyes flared gold as he stepped forward, reducing the space between their bodies down to a scant inch. “Yes…I can smell it on you right now.”
“That’s ridiculous.” Her pupils dilated as she took a step back. “I’m angry, not desirous of you.”
“You’re pissed and desirous.” He backed her up against the wall, boxing her in with his arms. “A very potent and dangerous combination.” He dipped his head into the crook of her neck and inhaled. “Don’t you know what you do to me, Paige? Don’t you know how you make me burn right down to my very core?”
He felt her shudder beneath him, and knew he would find her wet if he slipped his hand up down her pants, between her legs. “You… you have no right to expect me to let you back into my bed again.”
Caleb lifted his head so she could see the pain in his eyes. “I know that. But you make it damn hard for a man to keep away from you. Don’t forget, you’re the one who approached me at the courthouse. You opened this door.”
“Well then why the hell didn’t you just walk away like you always do, instead of stepping through that door, Caleb?”
“Because I’ve never been able to deny you anything you’ve asked for directly, and you know it.” He backed away, then turned before he gave into the urge to kiss her. “I’ll be on the couch tonight if you need me. Get some sleep.”
He stalked off to the living room, knowing this was going to be a very long night, after all.
* * * *
Paige didn’t get a lot of sleep that night. Between the attack, the revelation that the man she’d lusted after for years could change into a werewolf—lycan, she corrected herself—and the fact that said man was sleeping downstairs on her couch in order to guard her…to protect her from danger left her mind whirling. She alternated between being hurt, confused, angry, and simply exhausted.
The one thing her mind kept coming back to was the intense pain in his eyes. I’ve never been able to deny you anything, he’d told her. How ironic. So, if she’d simply come straight out and asked him to kiss her, he would have done it.
So much time lost…
When she headed for the kitchen the next morning, still dressed in pajama’s, she was greeted by the sizzle of frying bacon and the heavenly aroma of freshly brewed coffee. Standing in the doorway, she watched as Caleb deftly flipped pancakes, wearing nothing but a pair of jeans. Desire flared instantly in her lower belly, and she bit her bottom lip. How could he look so good so early in the morning?
“Good morning,” he said, without turning around. “I’ve already poured you a cup.” He gestured to the steaming mug waiting on the counter for her.
She took it wordlessly, not trusting herself to speak until she’d gotten some caffeine into her system. After a few sips, she cleared her throat. “You’re a brave man, frying bacon without a shirt.”
He gave her a nonplussed look. “I think I’ll be okay,” he replied with a chuckle.
Paige raised her eyebrows. “Do lycans feel no pain?”
“I’ve always had a high tolerance to pain, but yes, we can feel pain. We just heal much faster.”
They sat together at the kitchen table, and Paige watched Caleb pile his plate high with bacon, eggs and pancakes. She took a few of each herself, and decided to give herself a few moments of silence to enjoy the food before she spoke.
“Caleb,” she finally said, “you don’t have to follow me around all day. I know you’ve got a business to run and other things to deal with. I’ll be fine. Really.” And she would never get anything done if he was constantly in her presence.
“Wasn’t planning on it,” he said after swallowing a mouthful of eggs. “I’ll have a detail posted on you during the day. Two men—or rather, two shifters—one who will remain by your side at all times, the other who will be on the lookout and canvassing the area.”
“Seems like you’ve got it all figured out.” Why was she hurt by the idea that he was entrusting her safety to someone else? She’d just said she didn’t want him to have to give up his life for her safety.
“I had plenty of time to think about it last night when I was guarding you.”
She stared at him—not a single shadow under his eye. “You don’t look like someone who stayed up all night.”
He smiled a little. “I’ll be here every night with you.” His expression darkened, as if it was the last thing he’d rather do.
“No need to trouble yourself,” she said bitterly.
He arched an eyebrow. “Your life is in danger. It’s where I need to be.”
“I can tell you’d rather be anywhere else, so why bother?” She lifted her chin. “I’m sure one of your employees can handle the job.”
Caleb slammed a fist down onto the table. A web of cracks spread like wildfire across the surface as he leaned across the table so their faces were inches away. “The only thing that would drive me even more insane than spending the night here, surrounded by your scent, your need, is the thought of leaving another shifter alone with you. Even one of my own.”
That shouldn’t have made her feel good. It really shouldn’t have. “I see. You must really have to make some tough choices,” she cooed.
He fisted his hand around the front of her shirt and pulled her forward, chair and all.
“I forgot how stubborn you could be, woman.”
“And you’re constantly reminding me how much of an insufferable bastard you are.”
With a snarl, he crushed his mouth against hers. Need flooded through her, white hot and powerful, surging through her blood, through the very marrow of her bones. With a little snarl of her own, she vaulted into his lap and fisted her hands in his hair. The chair crashed to the floor, and she heard the snap of wood against tile as she shoved her tongue inside his mouth, but she didn’t care. There was only him, and the powerful storm they created together as they rolled across the cold floor.
“Naked. Now,” Caleb growled, ripping her pajama top down the front. He latched onto her breast, suckling hard, one leg jammed between her legs. She rubbed herself shameless against his thigh, clutching his head to her, and came. His dark chuckle sent shivers down her spine as he yanked her pajama bottoms off, and then he was inside her, filling her, simultaneously quenching and stoking the fires of her need.
She led him upstairs to her bedroom, closing the door behind them. As soon as she did, he pushed her up against the wall and kissed her, sending her head spinning. His spicy scent surrounded her, the taste of spice and cinnamon filled her as he slid his tongue inside her mouth. She sucked on it, drawing a groan from him, and he responded by sliding his hands around to cup her curvy ass.
It didn’t take him long to find the sensitive spot right in the middle of her back. A shiver went through her as she realized how vulnerable she’d made herself—she was standing in the room naked, her body plain for him to see in the bright mornin
g light. No amount of confidence and strutting could hide the fact that she was curvy. She held her breath, waiting for him to say something, or for his expression to change but all she saw was pure raw hunger, and it both excited and frightened her. He began kissing a trail down the column of her throat. His teeth nipped into the skin below her collarbone as she clutched his shoulders, and it wasn’t long before his mouth was on her breast, her nipple deep in his mouth.
“God yes,” she moaned as he suckled her breast, then tugged on the nipple with her teeth.
“You like that?” he asked, pulling his head back to look up into her face. His blue eyes glittered dangerously. “How about this?” He dipped his hand between her legs, his fingers expertly finding her clit. Her thighs stiffened as she cried out, her pussy throbbing beneath his touch. Her fingers dug hard enough into his shoulders to leave marks, but he didn’t complain; rather he seemed to enjoy it. When he slid his fingers inside her, expertly rubbing against her g-spot, she exploded, crying out incoherently. He took advantage of her vulnerability by positioning her in such a way that he could quickly replace his fingers with this thick, steely cock.
“Caleb!” She couldn’t think, could barely form any words at the sensation of his hot cock working its way inside of her. He pulsed back and forth, turning her into a quivering mass of need. Before long she was bucking her hips against his, driving herself closer to the edge. He gripped her ass in his hands, moving her up and down, urging her on to another climax, and she cried his name again as he continued his onslaught.
“You feel so good,” he growled into her ear, his teeth nipping at her earlobe before pushing his cock deeper into her. “I want to feel every inch inside of you…as deep as I can go.”
Paige could only cry out, her pleads lost in the fury of growls, groans and breathless panting that echoed throughout the bedroom. Their bodies melded together, sweat coating their skin, taking them further into a feverish pitch before diving into deeper chords of hollow, grunting animalistic passion.
With urgency, he spread her legs wider, his hands now gripping the underside of her knees, gripping her tender flesh in his fists, kneading her calves, her ankles before running them underneath her ass. His broad, strong chest whipped against her breasts, heaving above her, hovering merely inches away before crashing down onto her in exhaustion. Yet he continued on, unwilling to end the blissful intensity that he felt buried deep inside of her wet, blistering hot mound.
“I want to ride you,” she groaned, suddenly finding her voice.
He let her push him back onto the bed, and watched, eyes glittering, as she climbed on top of him. She didn’t allow herself to think, knowing that if she did she would show her hesitancy, her lack of experience. Straddling him, she cupped his face and kissed him long and slow, tenderly molding her naked body to his. She could feel his muscles flexing against her bare skin, feel his heart pounding against her chest, his erection pressing against the inside of her thigh. She was now in control and it was her tempo, her lead in this wild, passionate dance and he must follow.
“I’ve never felt this way before with anyone,” she told him, her face buried into his shoulder, hiding her embarrassment at her loving words.
“Look at me.” He started to reach for her, wanting to see her expression, but she caught his hand gently.
“Not yet,” she replied quietly.
Caleb nodded, letting her remain in control.
“There are things that I’ve always wanted to tell you…things that I never dared say. But now, after all that has happened, all of the time that has passed. I just don’t want to let another day slip by without telling you the truth.”
Paige felt her breath catch in her throat, but forced herself to go on, straddling his lap, his cock now barely inside of her. She felt him suck in a deep breath as she allowed the head to slide just beyond her slit.
“Tell me,” he growled, impatiently. “You can tell me anything.”
“I want you,” she replied quickly knowing the words must come out fast or they never would. “I’ve always wanted you as mine…entirely mine.”
She kissed his way down the side of his face to the cleft of his chin, enjoying the restrained strength of his powerful muscles just lurking beneath the skin, peering up at him shyly, suddenly unsure. The crisp hairs on his chest teased her as she worked her way down the length of him, lingering on the brown, hard nipples when he rewarded her with a groan before continuing over his rock hard abs. She especially loved the way his v-cut muscles quivered when she nipped at them, so close to the waistband of his breeches.
“Are you going to stop there?” his voice was mild, but there was a challenge in his eyes, as though he wasn’t sure she was woman enough to go all the way. Her spine stiffened; she wasn’t going to back down. She’d come too far for anything else.
“Only if you want me to,” she purred throatily, her fingers curling around the waistband as if she was going to give him a choice.
“No,” he replied. “I meant…is that all you have to say?”
“Yes,” she replied coyly before kissing the head of his cock and he groaned when she finally took him into her mouth, tasting the hot saltiness of him. His strong fingers gripped her curls, not quite hard enough to hurt.
“Then I must tell you,” he replied with a groan as one of his hands came down to play with her breasts, toying with the nipples and sending little thrills of need through her. Just when she was sure it couldn’t be much longer, he pulled her away, then reared up and dragged her forward so that she was back on top of him.
“I’ve always wanted you, too,” he growled, gripping her hips as he pushed himself inside of her without pause. The sudden shock of being filled so quickly mixed with his deep, masculine tone made Paige cry out, her back arching, her legs trembling. Caleb sat up, wrapping his arms around her waist as he covered her mouth with his, changing the angle so that it was even deeper, even better. He thrust his tongue in and out of her mouth, matching the rhythm with which he made love to her. Wanting to give herself entirely to him and not feeling she could ever get enough, she bit down on his tongue, engaging him, her fingers digging into his skin as she pushed back with her hips.
“You are absolutely beautiful,” he told her. “I don’t know how it’s possible for any woman to be so perfect…for me.”
His words touched her heart, but she refused to read into them, simply kissing him again to silence him. Although it didn’t matter, he had already seduced her emotionally. An unbelievably deep…real attachment to this man wasn’t something she had ever wanted, yet if she were honest with herself she would have to admit that it had always been there… Her nails dug into his skin a little harder than she intended at the thought, and she forced herself to relax and enjoy the moment.
He broke the kiss again so he could savage her neck, biting and sucking in a way she knew was going to leave a mark. It thrilled her that she didn’t care. A moan broke from her lips when one of his hands reached down between them and found her clit, stroking her higher and higher as he continued to penetrate her with steady, hard thrusts. She was molten, a quivering, burning mass of pleasure, and it wasn’t long before the orgasm broke through her with an overwhelming force. She held onto him for dear life, her legs clamping his waist, her pussy clenching around his cock as she screamed his name.
“Yes,” she cried out, gouging her nails into his shoulders. “Oh God, Caleb!” They moved together furiously, pushing each other to the edge, and she watched his golden eyes go blind as he emptied himself inside of her with a roar.
Afterward, he levered himself onto his arms and stared down at her with an unreadable expression. He brushed a hand against her cheek, lingering, and the gesture was so tender she wanted to cry. She opened her mouth to say something, but the doorbell rang, and he was on his feet, fastening his pants.
“That’ll be your security detail coming to relieve me. Get dressed so I can introduce you before I leave, okay? I’ll be back here at six-thi
rty.”
He stalked out of the kitchen, and she struggled with the urge to heave her empty coffee mug at his sexy, naked, retreating back. The need for clothing won out, though, and she hurried up the stairs to change.
Today was going to be a long day.
Chapter Six
“What do you mean, you let her get away?”
Randy cringed inwardly at the censure in their master’s tone, though his face remained a mask of stone. He glanced at Kyle, who was still unconscious; healing from the bullet wound, and wished he were awake. He was better at dealing with people, and usually was the one who dealt with these kinds of conversations.
“Caleb appeared just as we were about to take her. While we were trying to fight him off, she shot Kyle in the neck. We had to retreat.”
His master let out a disgusted sigh. “Sometimes I wonder if I should have just gone down to do this job myself. How long until Kyle is back in commission?”
“At least another day.” Shifters normally healed pretty fast, but this was a serious wound.
“I can’t afford to wait that long. I’m sending someone else in. He’ll meet you this afternoon. If that woman isn’t delivered to me within twenty-four hours, I will personally skin you and mount your hide on my wall. As for your brother, he’ll share your fate.”
Randy swallowed as he glanced over at the sleeping Kyle. From anyone other than their master, it was an idle threat. “Yes sir. Consider it done.”
His only answer was a click, followed by a dial tone.
* * * *
Paige ran her fingers through her hair, her frustration mounting. She was typing up some legal forms for a client, and she had to go back and reword the legalese. Mostly because of the man standing in the corner of the room, his eyes glued to her every move, making it hard for her to focus.
“Can’t you just give me a bit of space?” she snapped, not for the first time as she swiveled her chair around to face him. “I can’t focus when you’re staring at me like that.”