She didn’t need to ask what he meant. “I told you. I thought you might rebuke me.”
“Are you sure that’s all of it?”
He chuckled. “Love, there was absolutely no chance of that happening.”
“Do you mean it?”
He nodded, without taking his gaze from her. As they continued to stare at each other, heat flared deep in her belly. Just like that, she wanted him again, wanted to feel him deep within her, claiming her again and again.
“So it doesn’t matter if I told you.”
“Yes, but I could have been a little more gentle with you.”
She smiled. “You were fine.”
He raised one hand to his chest and closed his eyes as if in pain. “Dagger to the heart.”
“What?”
“Fine is not a word a man wants to hear from a woman he just had the best sex of his life with.”
“Brody,” she said, “You doona have to lie to me.”
“What am I lying about?”
She rolled her eyes. “Really? You had the best sex of your life with me? The virgin?”
He leaned down and brushed his mouth over hers, all the while keeping his gaze locked with hers. Her heart started beating so hard she was sure he could hear it. “Nothing but the truth, love.”
“Brody,” she said, even though a tiny part of her heart wanted to believe him. She wanted to think that she had entrapped this amazing, sexy man—with a few bad tendencies, she thought with a silent laugh.
“Anice, I doona lie in bed.”
She let one eyebrow rise.
“Okay not with you, though.”
She laughed. “Sure,” she said as she tried to slip out of bed. He grabbed her arm and pulled her back, tumbling them over the bed so he was on top of her again. His serious expression scared her.
“I’m not lying, love. You blew my mind. Hell, my wolf is exhausted from happiness.”
“Brody.” But she couldn’t continue. He had undone her with what she hoped was his honest tone.
“Listen. I know that you doona have much experience.”
“Try none.”
“But it isn’t always like that.”
“Okay.”
“Doona bloody placate me.”
She sighed. They wouldn’t solve anything right now and probably ever. She might have given her body to him, and she might just be losing her heart to him, but she would be bloody insane to accept everything he said at face value.
“Tell me.”
“You weren’t truthful when we dated. If Gavin hadn’t interrupted us, I would have never known.”
“That’s not true,” he said, in an aggrieved tone. Too bloody bad. He hadn’t been truthful with her before. There was no getting around that fact.
“Tis true and you know it.”
“No. There was no way I was walking away from you. I just hadna come up with a way to tell you yet. He just helped it along.”
She frowned at him. “Brody, please doona lie to me. I can take a lot, but I canna have you do that to me again.”
He leaned down and kissed her, softly at first, then he deepened the kiss, stealing inside of her mouth. She couldn’t help but respond. By the time he pulled back, her head was spinning.
“I made a lot of mistakes, but I was going to make it right. I wasna sure quite how, but to hurt you now is to hurt myself, Anice.”
“You still lied.”
“Okay, I did. I did it for my family. It’s dangerous not being on our land and living outside of Scotland wears on us all. The only person in the Clan who doesn’t need to be on Scottish land is Eloise. But without the freedom to roam, our lifespan diminishes.”
“But your sister is in Texas.”
“And she can shift and run there. America has a lot of wolves.” He studied her for a long moment, as if trying to figure something out. “Gavin wanted me to bed you right off the bat, but I couldna do it.”
“Why not?”
“Because I knew you were my mate. I couldna take you to bed without you knowing who I was truly. He even called me before our date the other night.”
“I had other plans when we went out to dinner. Before Gavin broke it up.”
“Well, thank God he did that because I might have proven myself a coward and gave into you. It was a hard fight for me.”
She smiled. “Still…”
“You doona have to accept my word now. I will prove myself to you.”
She snorted. “I think you already did that.”
“I wasn’t talking about that. But just so you know, you haven’t seen anything yet.”
He slipped down her body, teasing her flesh with is mouth. He scraped his teeth over one nipple, then pulled it into his mouth. He gave the same treatment to her other nipple before he kissed his way down her body. With a nip here, and a scrape of teeth there, he had her moaning. She never thought of hiding any of her enjoyment, why would she? And right now, she didn’t give a bloody damn about anything but the pleasure he was giving her. When he settled between her legs, he gave her slit one long lick. She shuddered as she felt another wave of liquid heat fill her sex.
He looked up at her and hummed. “You always smell so beautiful, Anice, but right here…it’s all you. Sexy, feminine…mine.”
She couldn’t look way—didn’t want to. Even if he hadn’t said anything, Anice could read the intent in his eyes. He kept his gaze locked on hers as he bent his head. She felt the graze of his beard first, the light feathery touch teased her even closer to the edge. He slipped his tongue between her folds and she almost came. As she watched his eyes shut, Anice slipped her fingers through his hair, urging him on. She gave herself up to the bliss he offered, the total abandonment to everything but pleasure.
He slipped a finger inside of her while teasing her clit once… twice…with the third graze of his teeth over the tiny bundle of nerves, she came apart, bucking up against his mouth as wave after wave of ecstasy rolled through her.
She was barely recovered from her orgasm when Brody rose from between her legs, flipped her over on her stomach, and then pulled her hips up off the bed. He entered her from behind in one long hard thrust.
They both groaned, the sound echoing throughout the chamber.
He started to move, his fingers digging into her hips, he drove into her again and again.
“Oh, yes,” he groaned. “Fuck.”
She felt the stirrings of another orgasm start. As she moved in rhythm with him, her body shuddered, the demand for another release growing each time he plunged into her. Then, she tipped over the edge, shouting his name as she came, shuddering as joy took her over.
She thought she was beyond another orgasm, but Brody continued to push her. He had her screaming his name once more before he finally gave into his own pleasure, thrusting into her hard one last time before he poured himself into her.
They collapsed on the bed, but this time he made sure not to smother her. Their heavy breathing was the only sound in the room until she said, “Bloody hell.”
He laughed. “Exactly.”
They both laughed, until he pulled her back into his arms and covered them with the sheet. She thought she was too revved up to sleep, but she soon felt slumber take hold…then nothing at all.
* * *
The next morning, Brody lay in bed watching Anice. He knew it was a little creepy, but he couldn’t believe she was actually there, in his bed. He didn’t deserve her, he knew that much. He had made love to her three times, but he knew without a doubt, it would never be enough. Until the day he died, he would remember her surrender. He knew there was a good chance that at the end of this quest, they would be over. She would never trust him.
But she could. You have to prove yourself.
He rolled his eyes. I thought you would sleep most of the day.
No. We have work to do. For her. For her family and ours.
She shifted on the mattress and curled closer to him. When they hadn’t been making lov
e, they had clung to each other. Brody thought that might be a good sign, but everything was still shaky.
“What are you thinking about?” she asked, her voice groggy with sleep. She didn’t open her eyes.
“Just what we have to do. I didna wake you, did I?”
“No.” Then it seemed to hit her where she was. Her eyes fluttered open and her cheeks stained red. She was a delight.
“Good morning, love.”
“What time is it?” she asked trying to scoot away.
“Not even seven yet,” he said, grabbing her and rolling them over the mattress so he was on top of her. He knew they couldn’t make love, as she was probably too sore, but it didn’t stop his cock from having a mind of its own.
“Brody.”
“Anice, don’t.”
“Don't what?”
“Be ashamed.”
Her eyes widened. “Why would I be ashamed?”
“You’re not?”
She shook her head. “It’s, well you know you were my first and I have no idea what to do.”
He frowned. “What are you supposed to be doing?”
“Exactly. What do people do the morning after?”
Then it hit him. She had never had to deal with this, or the fact that her family was definitely going to know. He didn’t give a bloody damn, but her family was important to her.
“Do whatever you feel like doing.”
“I...I doona know what I want to do.” Then she shifted and winced. He knew that he had put her in pain with their escapades the night before.
“Why don’t we take a shower?”
“Just a shower?”
“Sure.”
No.
He rolled off her, then up to his feet. He bent down to slip his arms beneath her legs and back, lifting her off the mattress.
“Brody,” she said. “You’re going to hurt yourself.”
“No. You’re light as a feather.”
“We both know that is a lie.”
“No. You are light to me, but I am a wolf. I have more strength.”
A bubble of laughter rose up. “I think you just disparaged me.”
He stopped walking. “There is nothing I would do to hurt you. You have to understand that whatever I do to you, will hurt me.”
She nibbled on her bottom lip. “Is that a mate thing?”
He nodded, then his gaze dropped down to her breasts.
Yes.
No. She needs a break.
“Brody,” she said, her voice embarrassed again.
“What? I’ve seen you naked, love.”
And tasted every bit of her flesh.
“At night.”
“The lights were on. So doona be ashamed.”
“I’m not. It’s just…I’m not used to this.”
He nodded and set her down on her feet in the bathroom. He started the shower, then stepped back for her to step in before him.
He followed her, enjoying the heated water against his flesh. She wasn’t the only one who’d had a workout the night before.
But she wasn’t able to get any water with him standing in front of it. He reversed their positions and almost groaned as the water slipped down her body, leaving her curves slick. He couldn't resist leaning forward to lick a drop of water as it dangled off her nipple.
“I thought we were just going to have a shower,” she said, a husky edge to her voice.
Forget that, you wanker. She wants us.
“Yes. Turn, so I can wash your back.”
She studied him for a second, then did as he asked. He grabbed the soap and that was a mistake. It was the same one that she used. The herbal scent filled the shower. Bloody hell.
He pushed those thoughts aside and lathered up the soap. He touched his hands to her back, washing and massaging it at the same time. She set her hands on the wall in front of her, then hung her head down. The long moan wasn’t sexual at all. Instead, it was a release of tension and probably a little pain. He worked his hands down her back, pressing his thumbs hard against her spine, just enough to help release some of the tension he found there. She shuddered and moaned again--this time it was definitely sexual.
She turned around and faced him. In that moment, he didn’t know what to say or do. He could blame it on the blood loss to his brain, but he knew better. He knew that it had more to do with him being lost in this woman. His mate. He wanted her with such power that it was embarrassing, but he didn’t know how to handle that. He felt out of his element, unable to say anything.
“Brody?” she asked. He shook his head.
“Are you okay?”
He nodded.
Then she smiled, and he felt as if he owned the whole bloody world. “Good, because I have one or two things I would like to do to you.”
“I think maybe you should take it easy.”
Shut it.
She wrapped her hand around his cock and gave him a long stroke, her fingers dancing over the tip. If he didn’t know better, he would have never known she’d lost her virginity just a few short hours ago.
Her thumb grazed the head again, this time capturing a bit of his precum. She raised it to her mouth looking up at him as she did, and licked it off her finger.
“Hmm,” she said.
Bloody hell. Need her now.
Before he could act on his wolf’s demand, she dropped to her knees and took him into her mouth. As she licked and sucked his cock, she slid her fingers over his sac. With each swipe of her tongue, he danced closer to that edge. He molded his hands to the back of her head as she continued teasing him with her mouth. Soon, though, he knew he was getting too close to pull back. He wanted her with him when he came.
“Enough,” he said grabbing her to pull her up.
She frowned, but he didn’t have the patience to tell her exactly why he stopped her. Instead, he lifted her up, bracing her back against the tiled wall. He positioned his cock at her entrance and slowly entered her. His body was begging for him to go fast, fast, fast. Hell, his wolf was growling at him, but he knew she was a bit tender from the night before. Her muscles clung to him each time he pulled out then drove back into her. Soon though, the easy rocking motions weren’t enough to satisfy him. He increased his rhythm, plunging deeper and deeper inside of her with each thrust. It only took a few thrusts and she was coming, pulling him along for the ride.
He held her tight after his orgasm, knowing that this moment would not last.
“Brody?”
He pulled back and looked down at her as he eased out of her.
“Come on,” he said urging her under the water.
He soaped her up again, taking pleasure in the quiet moment, the almost serene atmosphere now. Together, they cleaned up, and even though he knew they needed to get downstairs, he took her back to his bed. He pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly against his heart. For now, this was going to have to be enough.
Chapter Fifteen
By the time they made it down to breakfast, most the family was already at the table. The only time that happened was when she was sick. Still, she refused to feel guilty.
Well, not that guilty.
After their shower together, she had hurried back to her room. She could care less if she ran into her brother or one of her cousins. She didn’t, however, want to run into Jack and have to explain what was going on. It was silly, but she felt as if she needed to set an example for him. Truth was that he probably knew all the idiotic stuff about mates that Brody had been spouting off.
She urged Brody to go as soon as he was dressed. He smiled and said nothing, but she was relieved when she entered the dining room and found him sitting at the table drinking coffee. Relief filtered through her. Again, she didn’t give a bloody damn about what her cousins or brother thought, but she needed coffee to deal with them. And food. She was ravenous.
She filled her plate and grabbed a coffee before slipping into the chair across from her brother and beside Brody. Sitting this close to him, s
he felt another wave of relief filter through her. What the hell was that about? She needed to stop listening to him spout off about being her mate. While she had hoped for more at the beginning of their relationship, she now knew it would be impossible. It didn’t mean she couldn’t enjoy the connection though.
“About time you made it down,” her brother grumbled.
Rena groaned. “Fletcher, leave it.”
He opened his mouth, but her soon to be sister-in-law shook her head. Unbelievably, he listened to her. Anice was liking having another sibling through marriage. IF she could keep Fletcher from making an ass out of himself, she might just not have to kill her twin.
Still, he kept shooting daggers at Brody, who ignored him. He was eating as much as she was and paying attention only to her. He didn’t say anything, but he kept giving her looks.
“So, I think it unfair that the M and M’s were allowed to see Brody as a wolf and the rest of us missed out,” Rena announced.
“I saw him,” Anice said.
“I just bet you did,” Rena said with a chuckle.
Anice’s face heated and she ducked her head and kept eating.
“I saw him too,” Jack said. “He promised he wouldn’t eat me.”
“I would think not. We doona eat little boys,” Cayden said, a smile playing about his lips.
“That’s just what Brody said, but since I have never met a wolf before, I had to be sure.”
“Very wise, in my humble opinion,” Cayden said.
“Yes,” Jack said.
Anice snorted. The boy definitely didn’t have a problem with confidence these days.
“We have a problem,” Maggie said, stomping into the room.
“What?” Anice asked.
“The amethyst isn’t at his house.”
“What? I thought you said he bought it.”
“He did. In fact, he didn’t even try to conceal it. Instead, he’s been flaunting it, but the spy I have in his employ—”
“He’s my spy, my lady,” Belvidore said.
“Yes. Your spy. Either way, the amethyst had been kept in a secure room until yesterday.”
“Did they give a reason for the move?” Anice asked.
“They said it was because of the party he’s throwing tonight. He’s been telling everyone he took it to the bank and put it in a safety deposit box. I call bollocks.”
Anice: The Cursed Clan Page 11