Breaking the kiss, she pushed his jeans down his long, sturdy legs—where she found more scars—and crouched to untie his boots and pull them off.
He stepped out of his pants and with them both still in their underwear, he scooped her up and deposited her onto her bed. When he climbed over her and draped his body atop hers, she instinctively rubbed against him, loving his weight on her. He nibbled at her ear and liquid heat rushed to her core, anticipating, yearning, preparing.
“Gods, you smell so good,” he whispered, running his nose along the flesh at her neck.
“You smell like the wild outdoors,” she said.
He stilled on top of her. “Do you fancy that smell?” He was so quiet, she swore she could hear his heart beating inside of him.
“It’s currently my favorite smell.” She arched against him, her thigh slipping between his legs and grazing his balls.
A low rumble vibrated out of him as he nudged her bra aside and closed his mouth over one breast. His tongue teased her nipple until it ached with need. Ached for him.
In the next few seconds, they rid themselves of their undergarments and rolled back onto the bed together. Jaemus teased her opening with the head of his erection and something inside Nika broke free. She’d been worrying so much about the trading post. She’d been missing her tato so much. She’d cut herself off from her friends as she struggled financially.
Being with Jaemus like this right now, however, made all that disappear.
She was just a woman.
He was just a man.
They’d found each other, and they were both about to get lost.
Chapter Eight
Nika’s body was perfect. Not a scar on it. Just miles of silky smooth flesh that curved exactly where it should. Her breasts were pert and begging to be worshipped. Jaemus was all too happy to grant their wish. The little needy sounds that escaped her made him eager to please her in every way possible.
How did I end up here?
He’d gone from being a brutal warrior to being changed into a werewolf without his consent to being banished by an angry Celtic goddess to being marooned on an unknown isle to being dumped—quite literally—on his brother’s doorstep in the future to being invited by this lovely sprite to take pleasure in her flawless body.
This last stop was clearly his favorite.
“Jaemus…” He loved the breathy sound of his name on her lips.
“Aye, sprite?” Pressing soft kisses along her belly, he cupped one of her breasts and kneaded it in his large palm.
Nika’s green eyes rolled upward as he touched her, more sounds of approval and desire echoing from her. “I want you. Now.”
Her strained words filled him with fire. Every other lass he’d had relations with had never stirred him up like this. Aye, they’d gotten stirred up—especially when they learned he was with Reardon’s legendary army and had riches aplenty—but he’d always felt as if he were going through the steps. Touching what should be touched. Kissing what should be kissed. It was all so routine, so emotionless.
Maybe that was what he’d liked about those lasses. They hadn’t expected anything more than a pleasurable evening. The demands were low stakes and more about earning bragging rights—he in competition with the other men for how many lasses they could bed and she in being able to say she’d bedded a warrior.
This, right now, with Nika was different. So different. A small part of Jaemus wondered if the change was because he was different. He wasn’t only a man anymore. He was both man and wolf. Was the intensity he felt with Nika a product of being a werewolf? Did he feel every physical need more deeply now that he had been altered?
Or was this time so passionate because of Nika? Had she somehow awakened parts of him no one else had been able to reach?
“Jaemus… please…” Nika opened her legs wider and he positioned himself between them.
Whatever the reason, he was taking what she offered, and he planned to enjoy every last second. Maybe in Nika’s arms, he could be just a man again.
He dipped a finger into her heat, finding her wet and ready. As he ran the head of his arousal along her slippery opening, she clamped her hands on his shoulders.
“Wait!”
“What’s wrong, sprite?” He was afraid to move a muscle, wondering if he’d hurt her somehow.
“We need a condom.” She wriggled out from underneath him, which he did not like. The view of her bare ass as she leaned over the side of the bed to a small table and opened a drawer, however, soothed his annoyance some.
When she scooted back over to him, she held up a small, square package. He had no idea what it was until she tore it open and rolled something slick and snug onto his length.
To keep her without child. He understood the precaution, but was a little dismayed at not being able to feel her surround him more naturally. Maybe in time.
And why was he assuming they’d be doing this again? Because he wanted to so badly?
“Okay, where were we, Wolfman?” She grinned at him as she slid back into position under him and looped her arms around his neck. “Ah, yes. Here we are.”
It only took the briefest of moments for Jaemus to find the pull toward her again. Slowly, he edged himself inside her, shuddering at the way she enveloped him. The fit was tight, but as he moved in and out with a steady rhythm, everything felt wonderful.
Nika hooked her legs around his back, allowing him to bury himself farther. She arched her hips up against his, matching his pace and cadence.
“Nika… Nika…” Her name rushed out of him as the pressure built between them.
“I’m here.” She put her hands on either side of his face, pushing his hair back and meeting his gaze. “You have the prettiest eyes. They have a light all their own.”
Werewolf eyes. He started to close them, but she tightened her grip on his cheeks.
“Hey, I want to see them. Don’t hide them from me.”
He looked down at her, knowing he should hide, but not wanting to. Not from her. Not while he was about ready to explode inside her.
They climbed higher together, until on a cry of his name, Nika shattered beneath him. He followed right behind her and they both breathed heavily in a post-climax bliss on her bed.
After a few minutes of panting, Nika rolled her head to look at him. “That was the best lunch break I’ve ever taken.”
He laughed and threw an arm around her waist. Tucking her in close, he played with her gorgeous hair. “That was the best lunch I’ve ever eaten, sprite.”
“We should probably really eat something and head back to the post. You have a video ad to do with Carrie, and we need to get the word out about you.”
“Which word? The word on what an exceptional lover I am?”
Nika immediately shook her head. “No, that word would be best kept secret, I’d say.” She sat up and coiled her hair into a messy knot. “I’m kind of selfish, and when I find something I like, I want to keep it all for myself.”
“And you like me?” Jaemus sat up now and caught her lips in a heated kiss, hoping beyond hopes that she did, in fact, like him.
Nika kissed him back with the same level of fire then broke free, a devilish smirk on her swollen lips. “I guess you’re okay.” She giggled and popped off the bed before he could catch her.
“Sprite. Definitely an impish sprite.”
He got up and pulled on his clothes—as she did—then followed her out to the living room. He hadn’t bothered looking around on their way in as his mind—and body—were focused on other things. Now he wandered the room, noting craftsmanship similar to what he’d seen in the barn below and the trading post.
“Your father was a skilled builder,” he said as he admired the ceiling beams.
“Tato could build anything. He had his own Polish ways of making things, but when he came here and befriended the local Native Americans, he learned other tricks. The two ways blended into something that was uniquely Cezar Skarvinski.”
<
br /> Her green eyes had gone a little misty, but a smile still graced her lovely lips.
“You must miss him.”
“Terribly. It was just me and him for a long time.” She pulled a picture frame off a bookshelf and handed it to him. In the picture, a little girl with long, brown braids and a black-haired man with the same green eyes as Nika smiled back at Jaemus.
“What happened to your mother?” he asked.
“She died shortly after I was born,” Nika said. “I never knew her.”
Something sharp poked at Jaemus’s heart, knowing this beautiful girl in the picture he still held had grown up without a mother.
“I never knew my father,” he said. What was he doing? He never shared that information with the lasses he enjoyed. That was personal. And yet, here with Nika, it had spilled out of him.
“It’s hard, isn’t it? The not knowing? My mother was a Native American my father met when he came here from Poland, but that’s all I know about her. Tato wouldn’t talk about her when I asked questions. I think a big piece of him died when she did, but he held it together for me.” She took the picture frame and placed it back on the shelf. “Your mother raised you then? You and Reardon?”
“Aye, barely. Reardon and I took care of ourselves mostly.”
“And where is your mother now? Back in Ireland?”
He shrugged. “I suppose. We haven’t spoken in ages.”
“Does that bother you?”
Gods be damned, it did bother him. His mother hadn’t been happy he’d joined Reardon. She’d begged him to stay, but when she asked who would take care of her, he’d known she’d wanted him to stay for the wrong reasons. He’d decided it was time for him to take care of him and only him.
When he’d started gaining fortunes as a hired warrior, he’d sent some riches to his mother with word of his location at the time. She never once sent any thanks.
“Aye, it bothered me, but not anymore.” Nika didn’t need to know that wound would always be fresh. “You have a nice home here.”
“I like it,” she said. “That’s why I don’t want Robert to have this land. He gets more than the land and my trading post. He gets my home.”
“That your father built.”
She nodded. “When I told Robert that, you know what he said?”
Jaemus was certain he wouldn’t like what that bastard had said.
“He said, ‘I’ll build you a new home. A bigger one, and we’ll live happily ever after in it.’” She puffed out her cheeks as if she were going to vomit, making Jaemus laugh. “Doesn’t he realize I’d rather live in a tiny cardboard box out on the street than live anywhere with him?”
Jaemus liked hearing those words. Something about knowing no one else held Nika’s heart made him feel… hopeful.
“Why doesn’t he find another place to build his Mr. Spankles Shop?”
Nika burst out laughing, but Jaemus wasn’t sure what was so funny. “Mr. Sprinkles Donut Shop, Wolfman. Not Spankles.” She wiped at the tears in her eyes. “I’ve asked him that too because there’s lots of other places to develop. He owns a new shopping center nearby, and I told him to put his stupid donut shop there. Robert claims this location needs ‘a place where people can get coffee and mingle.’ Um, hello? I sell coffee and people are welcome to mingle.”
“You just need to get people to come here.”
“Bingo.” She arrowed a finger at him. “Which is why I have you.”
He grabbed that finger and tugged her closer. “I think I proved you have me for more reasons than getting people to come here.” He motioned down the hall toward the bedroom with his chin.
She put her hands on his chest and grinned up at him. “Yes, that’s true. You also offered to keep Robert away.”
“Aye, what else?” He kissed her nose.
“You have a particular talent for making me pant your name.”
“And might you be willing to allow me to exercise that talent again, sprite?” Say yes. Gods, please, say yes.
“I could be persuaded.” She reached up on her tiptoes, her slender body pressing against his in all the right places as she kissed him. “But right now, we have some marketing work to do. C’mon.”
After a quick apples-and-granola-bars snack, they left her apartment and arrived at the trading post in time to see a family exit with bags under their arms. Jaemus glanced at Nika who had an ear to ear smile on her face.
“It’s working already, Wolfman. You’re like a lucky charm.”
Would she think he was lucky if she knew what he really was?
****
Could people float? Could they get around by dancing through the air? Was that what sprites did? Nika was definitely soaring after what had happened in her apartment with Jaemus. Good Lord, the man could whip her into a frenzy with a glance, never mind what his actual touch did to her.
A full body ripple made her shiver as she walked into the trading post with Jaemus right behind her.
“Are you all right, sprite?” His hand rested on her shoulder further shocking her system.
“More than all right, Wolfman. More than all right.” She threw him a smile over her shoulder and stopped at the register where Zavier and Carrie chatted, Daisy sitting beside them. “Hey, kids.” Nika rubbed her dog between the ears until Daisy’s golden eyes disappeared behind chocolate fur.
Carrie turned the laptop she was working on toward her. “Check this out, Boss.” She tapped the keyboard and footage of Jaemus leaping over her and Nika on the bleachers filled the screen.
“Incredible.” Nika looked at Jaemus whose eyes were not on the screen but laser-focused on her instead… as if waiting for an unfavorable reaction. Why? What she’d watched was the coolest stunt her Wolfman Show had ever seen.
“Do you practice shit like that?” Zavier asked. “Because that was like a flawless jump, man.”
Jaemus turned his attention to Zavier. “I run. Often. Keeps me in shape.”
“We can see that,” Carrie said as she let her gaze wander over Jaemus’s incredible body. If Nika hadn’t just enjoyed how in shape Jaemus was and if it was anyone but Carrie giving him the once-over, she’d be… uhh, what was the word?
Ah, yes. Jealous.
Silly. She’d had one roll in the hay with the guy. One. Amazing. Roll. She didn’t own him. He wasn’t hers. But he does want to have sex again. With me. He’d said so, and he’d said it with such fire in his eyes that she one hundred percent believed him.
“Show me what other footage you have.” Nika leaned her elbows on the counter as Carrie flipped through the video she’d taken. Watching The Wolfman Show had been fabulous, but Nika picked up more of Jaemus’s phenomenal acting and costume by watching it again. The man was a natural for this particular role. As if he were made to play it.
“Zavier had a couple of cool suggestions for the ad.” Carrie shot Zavier a smile, and Nika loved seeing the boy’s cheeks color. She hoped she was around when these two finally got together. She wanted a front row seat at their wedding some day.
“Great. Why don’t you two take Jaemus to my office and work your magic on creating a knock-their-socks-off ad? I can handle out here for a bit.” Nika glanced to Jaemus who had grown quiet after seeing himself on video. “Would that be okay, Jaemus?” He was, after all, helping her. She should at least ask if he minded working with the kids.
“Aye.” He turned to follow Zavier and Carrie to her office, but then he looked back at her. “Not sure how I’m supposed to concentrate on anything besides you though, sprite.” One golden brown eye winked at her, coupled with a sexy grin that made Nika grab the counter behind her for support. He chuckled and the low sound stroked her ears.
He followed the teens, his gait smooth and… wolfish.
Shaking her head, Nika busied herself with tidying up the post. Many items were askew on their shelves, which delighted her because it meant people—customers—had picked up merchandise, thoughtfully considered the products, and hopefully
made purchases. She skipped back to the register and opened it, ecstatic to find more money in there than when she had opened in the morning. Sweet Baby Jesus, it was happening. She and Maple Ridge Trading Post were on the upswing.
Finally!
And she had one sexy Wolfman to thank. For many reasons as he’d pointed out in her apartment. Just thinking about one of those reasons had her all hot for him again.
“Some powerful shit…”
“What’s powerful shit?”
Nika whirled around to see Meredith Wendon had entered the post. “Oh, hey, Meredith. Good to see you.” Even if the woman had caught her talking to herself.
“Likewise.” Meredith narrowed her eyes as she smiled at Nika. “Not going to tell me what’s powerful shit?”
Nika shook her head. “Just talking to myself. It’s nothing.”
“You sure it’s not a tall, Irish lad with golden hair and equally golden eyes? Looks like someone who stepped off the cover of a romance novel? I believe I just saw him in here, yes?”
Nika’s cheeks positively burned so there was no way she could say Meredith was wrong.
“Yeah, that’s what I thought. Or should I say aye instead?” Meredith laughed as Nika covered her face and rested her head on the counter between them. “It’s okay, sweetie. I keep praying for an older version of Reardon or Jaemus to show up.”
When Nika raised her head, Meredith had her fingers crossed and a pleading expression on her face.
“Or for your father to magically reappear.” Meredith reached across the counter and patted Nika’s hand.
Before Nika’s father had passed, he and Meredith had been spending a great deal of time together, and Nika had been hopeful he’d finally found someone who could make him smile. He always seemed happy, but she knew he had to be lonely for some companionship—other than that of his daughter. Sadly, he died before a relationship with Meredith blossomed.
“That was some fabulous cleaning work you and Dylan did in the barn,” Nika said to keep her mind off missing Tato.
Meredith snapped her fingers. “I got that kid trained in the Ways of Clean. Besides, neighbors help neighbors. And Jaemus seemed… inspired to help you. You getting some animals or something?”
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