Seducing Beauty

by Skhye Moncrief

  Mate, Wolf snarled.

  She shoved away from my pounding heart, sliding her palms slowly down the length of my arms, and squeezed one of my hands in hers. "Come on." She stepped back toward her gray mount.

  Back toward the trees. Grinning. What is she up to? A man on the verge of getting the only thing he needed to possess for years isn't about to question the universe. I followed her slow calculated footsteps.

  Why the measured placement of her footing? As if this is something she carefully plotted with each brush of grass blades against ankle. With each crackle and pop of forest litter beneath our boots as we maneuvered through the cottonwood grove. With each pulse of blood in my aching hardened cock on our way down to the sparkling river's mercurial water mirroring the pale blue sky.

  She halted beside the sky's reflection and smiled. "Swim with me."

  Swim? The water is too Gods-be-damned cold for her Normal body.

  She pulled the tan shirt's tails out from where they tucked into her jeans and shot me a wicked grin. "You're wasting time, Boa." She reached for one of her brown boots and pulled it free of a thick handmade beige sock.

  Something told me the glint in her eyes meant she had plans for more than swimming for pleasure. Pleasure being key here. I'll have to keep her warm.

  Wolf's gurgling growl shook every cell in my being.

  She winked with a wily smile and yanked her shirt over her head, revealing the sweetest black see-through lace bra cupping globes my hands begged to hold.

  Mine, Wolf whined.

  Nothing was left to our imagination about those breasts a man could nuzzle, except the weight of them in his hands.

  My cock lurched.

  The little disks of nipples, that appeared as pink as her heart-shaped lips, were pinched into pearls and impossible to conceal beneath the denser black flowers woven into the fabric's sheer lace. Gods. To slow peel the lace away. To run my fingers across that irreplaceable flesh.

  Her hands shoved at the waistband of her faded jeans.

  She wiggled her hips out of her blue jeans.

  Yes. No underneath but alabaster skin broken only by the curve of her sleek form. The way a free spirit would prefer being bound in clothing.

  My skin began to prickle with Wolf's insistence to mark his mate.

  I choked down a hard gulp of air and held my breath.

  She winked, kicked off the jeans, and stood there in nothing but the mind-boggling lace bra and those handmade beige socks bunched down around her ankles, a breeze brushing a few strands of her hair across the flat belly and the white curls of hair Wolf desperately wanted to snort against.

  Beautiful body. Perfect. Just enough curve in just the right places. And the smell. Delicious. Salty. The scent of woman. My woman.

  Mine! He snorted so briskly that I swear her sire could hear us three valleys over.

  Settle down, Wolf. You've got to slow down. Work for your bite.

  She smiled coyly, lowering her nose to the ground, eyeing me through the spray of her eyelashes. "Come on." She thrust her chin toward the glinting water, reaching for the clasp between her breasts.

  The seductress. How in the hell am I to keep Wolf from pouncing and devouring that thatch of white curls? One flinch. The beginnings of one movement and Wolf would possess his prey. Talk about temptation being a curse.

  ****

  What is the man doing? I'd waited forever to have him touch me, get him to propose, have the kind thoughtful killing machine make me whole with those big hands he keeps to himself in the way he'd promised with all of those years of almost non-existent smiles and discussions of how the meaning of life could return to what humanity defined it before extraterrestrial invasion, AEI, if people worked to make it happen. He implied we'd be together in those careful intelligent discussions and the patience in his mask. That's what I want. Together. A normal life. Happiness in a cabin shadowed by beautiful mountains cloaked by tall pines and the happy sounds of life. Life with him. But he's just standing there.

  Staring into my eyes.

  Enthralled. Or afraid to move. How can he be? I'd bared myself to him. All but my breasts. And there wasn't anything hiding them anyway. Well, won't be when I finally strip the last vestige of Father's rules from my body. Don't tempt a Shifter with removal of your clothing, especially a Bitterroot Shifter. Wolverine would have been all over me the minute I lifted my shirt tails. That bastard cousin of mine. Not Boa. I fingered the tiny hard plastic between the bulges of my breasts.

  Oh, would Father roar if he could see me pop this clasp and peel the scant bit of lace from my breasts. For Boa, the next alpha male in line to reign over the Bitterroot Clan, the wrong Shifter. A quiet generous warrior with the mind of a steel trap. My warrior. Who better show some appreciation for my efforts here. I've never stripped for a man before. I tossed the bra onto my jeans.

  And still he stands there.

  Socks. It's these hideous not-so-enticing socks. I yanked them off. But he didn't budge. Maybe I was wrong about us. How could I have mistaken any of this? "B-Boa?"

  His hands jerked, landed on the button of his camouflage pants, and set to fumbling with the closure.

  All that bulging musculature in his arms undulated like his namesake. Mostly because he'd smeared on some kind of camouflage paint to emulate stripes. Or that his green gaze was firmly fixed upon mine to the point he wasn't thinking about the metal button his fingers mindlessly fumbled to open. No. He had other things on his mind.

  Snap goes the trap. Finally, after all those years of trying to get the man to confess his intentions toward me.

  Men are so predictable. Of course, it paid having so many relatives living at my sire's outpost. I think I've seen all of what men do. Yet, Boa's predictability in his noble manner is what kept me from losing my mind all along.

  He skinned himself, peeling away his pants like a snake shedding its mottled skin.

  Revealing the legless reptile he'd been concealing. One hell of a monster in comparison to what I'd seen splashing around the watering hole back among my kinsmen. Maybe I should run? Or does the determination suddenly glinting in his eyes note I couldn't escape?

  It would be fun to be caught. Oh, Lordy, mine. Mine. Mine. But I don't want him to touch me until I washed off the stink of travel. I shot him what I hoped proved a sparkling grin, batted my eyes, and stepped across some of the river's damp smooth cobbles.

  Arms grabbed me around the waist and swooped me into the air.

  Into his arms. Talk about all the strength I expected to feel curl around me in those muscled limbs. Who wouldn't settle into his hard warm chest, grab his shaved head, and force his hot mouth to feed hers again? I stared into his attentive green gaze.

  That's Boa. Aware. Alert. Attentive. Calm. Definitely the calm before the storm. Because when Father learns I defied him in mating a Bitterroot Shifter, I'd be excommunicated like Christians from their Church in history. Good thing we don't have that to contend with since the aliens arrived and harvested the inhabitants of Bitterroot Valley.

  He carried me a few steps until his footsteps dragged through the water, jangling like someone pulled an oar through the river.

  Struggling. But his balance never wavered. He carried me like a treasure, studying me. Searching. Contemplating. Or plotting. I'm all for plotting. Go ahead. Think about all the things you want to do to me. Bite me first. Can you hear my thoughts? Bite me, Boa.

  His footsteps stopped as the river hushed with its quiet sounds.

  Cool water kissed my ass as he stood waist deep now. Not a bad thing in making me think only of him. He's all hot. All smoking-amazing Shifter no woman could look at without thinking about being possessed by one. Coveted by one the way he was holding me in his arms. But I needed to wash up. "I won't vanish, Boa. Put me down. I want to swim a minute."

  His mouth curled sinisterly into his left cheek.

  Oh no. "Boa?"

  He started walking, cold water lapping a chilly trail up my back as we
sank more and more into the chilly water. "You won't be getting away today."

  I could have waited a lifetime to hear those words from the only man who didn't make me want to find another Shifter clan to join since Father instigated the feud. Albeit, there are many warriors old enough to mate in the valley. Rather, a handful at Father's fortress and six at the Bitterroot outpost. However, the clans severed their ties to one another, splintering when I was three. When my mother died because Boa's mother wasn't allowed to travel to help Mother foal the mares. When Mother was kicked in the forehead by Wild Sally and mortally wounded. And everyone had expected Father would look beyond his loss and find forgiveness. Even after he found another mate and gave me two younger brothers. And I'm his favorite child.

  I'm in so much trouble.

  How? Everything is so warm and perfect in Boa's arms. Everything will be that way after he bites me. He just needs to mark me. Make me forget my sire needs me. "Boa?"

  He blinked extremely slowly as if in deep thought and hummed a sound of acknowledgement that noted his Wolf gurgled deep inside his chest.

  "Do you think our families will hate us for this?"

  "Don't." He slid my body along the hard length of his, into the water until I was arm-pit deep and snaked his strong warm arms around my lower back, pulling my hips against his wonderful heat, pressing the hardness of his long engorged member into my belly.

  Proof he wants me.

  A wily grin teased his tanned lips apart. He chugged a louder gurgling Wolf growl, his face mere inches from mine.

  A warning that his beast lurked right beneath his skin.

  Gods. Just to close my eyes and tuck my nose beneath his chin.

  His wide palms caressed a hot path down my ass to cup both cheeks then squeeze them.

  Oh, Gods, squeeze them more.

  An ache shot through my being.

  Oddly shocking me into the deepest awareness I'd ever felt between my legs. Need. Pure. Raw. Need. I wanted to wrap my legs around his narrow waist and climb up his body, rubbing that achy need against the supple firmness of his welcoming form.

  He pulled my body upward, lifting my feet off the river's rocky bottom.

  My legs hung where I struggled to cling to the warmth of his doting firm muscles that kept my buoyant body pinned against him instead of floating away from his perfect rumbling mass. Oh yes. Rumbling little warnings of imminent possession.

  But the water tried to pull my floating body away.

  Those broad hands clutched my groin against his jutting shaft. "Don't think of Croc now," he persuaded, sliding his hands, pulling my thighs to bend my knees behind his back, "or you'll allow him to keep us apart. Today, we do what's right for us."

  Right as always even though crocodiles lived in rivers. Kind of ironic…Us rubbing pliant throbbing flesh against jutting sensitive places. Yes. Flesh and jutting things. Everywhere. And soon, so very soon, that jutting flesh would be inside me. Claim me. Now. I slid my arms around his solid neck and touched the tip of my nose to the curved point of his. "You're right. I love you, Boa."

  Gods, he was so close. So warm. Scented with a touch of musk like a man who marked his territory. Applying the most amazing pressure to the achy place between my legs. If only he'd make that pain vanish. "Boa, please," I whined and wiggled my hips enough to brush his hard belly with my pubic hair.

  He gently leaned his stubbled cheek against mine, closing his eyes, and grazed his the stubble downward, dipping his head while scraping my flesh.

  Just enough to stroke up a chill coursing through me with the thoughtfulness of a man consumed with passion. Yes. Oh. Yes. He loves me. Will always love me.

  One of his palms whispered up my side beneath my arm.

  Carefully mapping out my form with a mesmerizing touch that stole my breath away.

  My heart warmed sliding downward to pool low in my belly.

  Right where he teased me with the hardness of his shaft. He'll definitely mark me. Surely he'd always wanted to. "Why didn't you mark me back when Father tried to mate me to Wolverine?"

  "I didn't want to frighten you." His hot breath brushed my ear.

  Such counterproductive actions. I leaned my damp forehead against his and stared into his eyes as green as pine needles brightened by sunlight. "But you did frighten me. I feared you really didn't want me."

  So close. Those soft lips were so damned close. But I needed to know why he'd done what he'd done.

  He sucked in a cutting breath.

  Staring into my eyes. Trying to read me. Or formulate an excuse. Didn't he know that of all my cousins from both of our Shifter outposts that he was the only warrior I met in secret? Often. So, damned often, risking everything, feigning the need to hunt for herbs, wild vegetables, berries, roots, and anything else I could use as an excuse to speak with the only man who made my blood race. But his gaze didn't appear to desperately search for some answer.

  "I'm sorry, Willow. I didn't realize you were ready to be mine."

  No?

  He smashed his mouth over mine and sucked a quick kiss before backing away.

  Leaving me to stare into his serious gaze for answers. "So foolish we were to waste all the years we could have been together. I would have run away with you that first year." So young at thirteen. And ready. But he hadn't asked. And now he studied me with the intensity of a guilty Shifter standing before his alpha.

  "You were too young," he whispered. "Young people make mistakes when it comes to love. I didn't want you to think you should have taken more time later. If your sire made you feel guilty."

  So, generous and thoughtful. He can keep my heart forever.

  "You're quiet," he whispered, his lips but an inch from mine, his bright eyes demanding an answer.

  The air hung thick between us. And his lips were so close. Why not mate? Why talk? "Kiss me."

  His erection arched against my tender sex.

  Begging to stroke my soul. Inside. Gods. I'm trapped. Right where he wants me.

  His mouth slanted, covering mine with amazing heat.

  Heat that burned away the world. Burned away the rest of the cool lapping water.

  His steely presence throbbed against my sex again.

  Teased. Taunted. Kicking my hips into mindlessly rocking against the iron length of his member. Making him groan into my mouth even though the wet sounds of his wrestling tongue diluted the moan into a fraction of the fervor it could have been. But I wanted it all. Him inside me, thrusting wildly, thrashing like I'd seen Wolverine do with Mary Locke. Mary had screamed, clawing bloody scratches into my cousin's back, and begged him to do it again after he collapsed atop her panting body. That's what I want. Absolute completion with the Shifter I choose. A man of integrity destined to head his clan because of his code of ethics. Boa. I tightened the grip of my legs around his lean waist.

  He growled into my mouth shoving my mouth backward.

  Intoxicatingly. And my body danced against his washboard abs.

  He snarled, his hungry mouth withdrawing an inch until I could look into his half-shuttered glowing golden eyes.

  His Wolf had risen. Arrived to claim his mate. Perfect. I glided a palm across his freshly-shaved scalp and cupped his curved head in case he dared to look away. "Please, Boa. I've waited so long. Just to be yours--"

  The world shifted until water jangled, dripping from my body, and his movement through the river became the oar-like drags of his legs. Sloshing. Heading into the shallows. Him focusing on the shore as I stared at the rounded point of his nose in his strong profile.

  Why are we leaving the river? Am I mistaken? No. We were always destined for each other. Him to care for my needs. Me to soothe his Wolf and give him children. A couple working together to feel complete in a world where happiness could only be bought by powerful overlords who toyed with most of the planet's remaining humans.

  He stepped from the river and strode until finding a place where he descended onto his ass sitting in the soft cool grass, desce
nding that attentive mouth of his to tickle the pulse beneath the skin at the bend where my shoulder meets my neck.

  The hot pliant muscles of his body pressed against mine.

  Wrapped around me. Locking me in his lap, straddling the strength of his thighs. Oh sweet stars that mouth of his unleashed so much need quaking through my body that I somehow melted out of his arm hold and seeped across the forest floor.

  Those golden eyes followed me.

  Stalked me. Hovered. So far away where his knees shoved my thighs apart in some secret type of torture meant to drive me insane. I tried to close my thighs.

  To set him off again with my legs.

  He only stared.

  Silently. Why isn't he touching me?

  My spirit whined a desperate plea.

  The glow in those eyes flickered at the sound my body had made. Then his lips descended to my collarbone, massaging a tingling line south to the rise of my breast.

  A shiver coursed through me.

  Maybe because I had my thighs stretched wide by a man who was having his way with me. Maybe I liked that. Or his hot wet mouth sucking on my breast. The breast I arched up to smash into his attentive lips. Whatever the reason, I writhed beneath that mind-numbing firm pressure kneading the wicked aching knot out of my sensitive nipple.

  Apparently, his goal was to make my groin rock uncontrollably. Silently. Beg for him. Somebody would have to do something before I lost my mind. I grabbed his head and held on for dear life.

  He growled the deepest guttural sound I'd ever heard. His sharp incisors latched onto the taut bead of my nipple and pulled it with indescribably delicious force.

  Hot molten need shafted through me.

  Scorching the tissue between my heart and neediest center of my universe set down between my legs. Nothing possibly remained inside me to block his blessed cock's way when he took pity on me and finally thrust inside my aching channel. Now, why not now? I whined. "Boa, you're killing me."

  He snarled against my skin, shoving the bulge of my other breast toward where his mouth worked the first nipple, and ignored me.