by Maddy Barone
“Thank you.” She didn’t know she could blush so hotly, especially over a mere compliment.
“I love your body,” he went on. “Your soft curves, your silky white skin, your beautiful hair.”
The way he looked at her, with hunger visibly wrestling with tenderness, made her blood pound hot and heavy in her veins. His body was perfect, lean and muscular without being bulky, covered in smooth dark skin that she wanted to caress. And his hair! Freshly combed, it lay like a dark curtain over his shoulders to the slouching waistband of his shorts. And below that… She swallowed, forcing herself to breathe. In only minutes he had taken her from confused tears to molten desire.
His fingers trembled slightly when he reached to touch her cheek. “Are you ready to accept me?”
Her heart sped up even more. “Yes. What do you want me to do?”
“First, turn around slowly so I can see you.”
She turned in a smooth slow circle in front of him. “And now?”
“Take off the robe thing.”
Normally she could do a strip tease that would drive an appointment wild, but now she found herself fumbling with the sleeves. By the intent look on his face, Sand didn’t mind. He took the robe from her hand and tossed it on the floor. The nightie really didn’t hide anything. He reached out and trailed one finger so lightly down the slope of her breast that she shouldn’t have even felt it, but when he grazed the edge of her nipple she had to stifle a moan. When he did the same thing to her other breast she decided not to hide her reaction.
“Oh, God, Sand,” she whimpered.
He stepped back. “Take it off. I want to see you.”
She drew the wisp of fabric over her head and let it drop. Standing in only the tiny g-string, she tossed her hair back, placed one hand on the front of a thigh and the other on the side of her hip, and smiled at him. “What else would you like me to do?”
“Come here and kiss me.”
She did, pressing her body against him and spearing her fingers through his hair. His mouth was hot and greedy, his cock thick and hard through the worn denim of his shorts, and in less than a minute she was rubbing against him and moaning.
“Not yet.” His voice was thick. “I want to pet you first.”
“Fine.” She untangled her fingers from his hair and slid them down his back and under his shorts to squeeze the taut swell of his ass. “I want to pet you too.”
‘No.” He gripped her wrists and pulled her hands away. “You can’t touch me now. If you do, this will all be over too quick. So step a little ways back.”
Reluctant but obedient, she took a step back. “What would you like me to do next?”
Everything about him inflamed her. His long lean body, his long silky hair, his round ass, his hot mouth and —mercy!— the outline of his hard cock beneath his shorts all made her wild to have him slamming home inside her. Just his stare roaming over her body was enough to make the blood rush to the apex of her thighs.
“I don’t know.” It was an almost soundless pant.
“Well… Let’s see. You said you wanted to pet me. So you could do this…” She plumped one of her breasts with one hand, licked the tip of a finger on the other and traced it around the crinkled nipple. “Or maybe you could try this.” She inched the tip of her finger beneath the string of the almost non-existent panties at her hip and ran it slowly from her side to the tiny triangle of pale blue silk in front. “I think you might like this.” She dipped the finger beneath the silk and curled it to find her opening, slick and wet and wanting. “In fact, I’m sure you would like it. And I know damn well I would.”
“Take it off,” he ordered. “I can’t see what you’re doing. Take it off!”
She flicked him a satisfied smile. “Whatever you say,” she purred, reaching for the string.
When it fell away she sauntered over to the chair at her vanity and sat, stretching one leg out in front of her and tucking the other under the chair. With her hands tucked behind her neck and her head laid back over the back of the chair, her breasts thrust up in invitation. She sent him a sultry glance from under her lashes and saw him frozen where she had left him, gaze fastened on her like a starving man staring at a banquet.
“It’s a little lonely over here. I thought you wanted to pet me.”
He was on her like a whirlwind, kneeling between her thighs as he overwhelmed her with his passion. When he’d said he wanted to pet her, she expected something rather clumsy, but his hands were exquisitely tender when he shaped her breasts, smoothed down her belly to her thighs. At first, he avoided the place she really wanted him, taking time to lick and suck her breasts until it took all her willpower to stay in the chair instead of climbing on top of him.
“You’re so soft,” he murmured, pulling back to look into her eyes. “So beautiful. Look at us together. You’re so pale and sweet next to me.”
She looked down at his brown hand splayed over her white breast. “I think we look terrific together.” She reached to lay her hand, long pale fingers tipped with pink polish, over his heart. “See? But there’s one place you haven’t touched yet. Please, Sand, touch me here.”
He brushed her hand away from her pussy and kissed her, a slow lingering dance of tongues while he petted the slick, naked skin between her legs. His mouth was red and swollen when he pulled away and sat back to watch his finger disappear into her depths. His face wore a wondering, almost pained expression.
“Oh, that feels good,” she told him, panting, amazed at the delicious feel of his finger invading her. “Two fingers. Use two fingers. Oh, yes. In and out now, in and out. Hard, Sand! Oh, touch me here, like this.” She tapped her fingers rapidly against her clit to demonstrate, but he didn’t use his fingers. His hair brushed over her thighs, and then his teeth nibbled her clit while his fingers plunged in and out of her at a frantic pace. “Sand!” she gasped in shocked delight. And then, “Sand!” she screamed as she exploded into writhing, trembling bliss.
When she came back to herself, she was half lying in the chair, Sand’s arm anchoring her there. With her head lolling to the side she had a clear view of his groin. The shorts had slipped down even more, and the glistening tip of his cock peeked out over the waistband.
“Oh, dear,” she said weakly. “You’re still dressed.”
“I am?” He glanced down. “Oh. That’s why I’m so uncomfortable.”
She giggled. It was a faint, trembling giggle, but genuinely amused. “Take them off. We’re not done yet.”
He quickly slid them down his lean hips and kicked them off. She stared at his cock. It was long and thick and obviously more than ready to take up where Sand’s fingers had left off.
“God, I want that in me. Are you strong enough to carry me to bed? I don’t think I can make it there on my own.”
*
Sand scooped his mate up out of the chair he’d decided was his very favorite piece of furniture and carried her to the bed. Seeing her —feeling her— come apart under his mouth was amazing. She, a woman who had known many men, had been thoroughly pleasured by a man who had never touched a woman before. Such a release couldn’t be faked. He owed Sky for the advice. And now it was his turn.
When he laid her on her back on the bed she gave him a hot glance from under half lowered lashes and reached for his aching cock.
“Come here, husband,” she said.
“Whatever you say, mate,” he returned, rejoicing in the right to call her that almost as much as in the feel of her hand on his hard flesh.
Her thighs parted and he saw that slippery pink place open for him. She guided his cock there. He hesitated, overcome with joy and awe.
“Push,” she whispered. “I want you deep, deep inside me.”
The feel of her hot flesh closing tight around him when he thrust deep squeezed a howl from his throat. He was vaguely aware of his voice muttering something when he dragged himself almost all the way out of her to push back in. He did it over and over His balls, already n
eedy and aching, tightened to the point of bursting, and when they finally did, he screamed what he had been muttering.
“Amanda! I love you!”
His body strangely weak and empty, he managed to roll onto his side so not to crush her. That was the most exhilarating experience of his life. He had pleasured himself with his hand before, but this was completely different. For one thing, his hand didn’t smile at him and tell him he was loved. Amanda turned onto her side to stroke his tangled hair.
“I love you,” she whispered.
“I love you too,” he said, trying to control his breathing. His heart wasn’t merely beating, it zoomed around his chest, bouncing off his ribs and dancing with his stomach. “That was amazing. Is it always like that?”
“No.”
Her eyes gleamed, hinting at tears. His heart stopped dead, frozen with the fear that he had somehow hurt her during his wild lovemaking. His hand had only just seized her shoulder when she gave a watery giggle.
“No, it’s never like that, not unless the people involved love each other.”
“So … it was good for you?”
Her giggle was louder. “It was better than good. You were pulling my leg, right? You weren’t a virgin.”
“Yes, I was!” He swallowed his outrage at her doubt when she laughed again and kissed him. “Amanda, I’ve never been so happy in my life.”
She settled against him, stroking his arm. “Me neither. I’m looking forward to being happy with you for the rest of my life.”
Deep inside, his wolf gave a happy sigh. “We’ll be happy together. We need to make plans. When should we leave the city? I want to get back to the den before winter. We have to go to your dad’s for supper next week, but after that we can leave, right?”
She thought about it, visibly suppressing a yawn. “I have lots to pack, and I need to make some goodbye visits to friends, but I think I can be ready for the Friday train next week.”
“Sounds good.” His eyes were heavy and he felt utterly relaxed, soothed by his mate’s hand in his hair and the utter absence of stress. “I get to bring you back home as my mate! I can’t believe you’ve finally accepted me.” He drew in her lovely scent, heavier now with spent desire. “I’m so—“ he yawned “—glad you did.”
“Me too.” She must have seen the way he fought sleep because she laid a finger over his lips. “No. Sleep, Sand. Sleep. We’ll talk in the morning.” She laid a soft, gentle kiss on his lips. “Good night.”
With her comforting weight curled up against him, he dropped into slumber.
Chapter 9
Sand woke, exquisitely aware of his mate pressed against him. She was on her side, her back against his chest and her ass snuggled into his groin, and desire, fresh and hot, rose in him again. He listened to her soft breathing and something Quill had told him a couple of months ago came back. Quill told him the first time he made love with his mate, he’d wept. At the time Sand thought Quill was pretty stupid to cry at a time like that, but now, feeling Amanda lying so close to him, showing such utter acceptance and trust, Sand understood. Tears of joy, awe, and overwhelming tenderness were gathering in his eyes now. After years of silently yearning to have a woman to love, his mate was lying next to him. He burrowed his nose into Amanda’s soft hair and breathed in her scent.
“I love you,” he whispered into her hair.
She didn’t wake, so he lay beside her and enjoyed her scent in his nose and her warmth beside him. She was his mate. No matter how many times he thought it, the joy of it remained fresh and new. He would never be alone again, now that he had her.
Over the next three days, early morning became one of Sand’s favorite times. Amanda always slept long past sunup, so he had plenty of time to revel in her presence at his side. Of course, that was only one of his favorite times. The nights when they shared passion were even better. Amanda told him what to do to please her, and he eagerly followed her instructions, and even embellished them with his own imagination. He delighted in making her scream his name. Later mornings were wonderful too, after she woke up and he made love to her again. Night time was for hot passion; mornings were for tenderness. He loved all of it.
On the fourth morning after their wedding, Amanda stretched languorously after she had gotten her breath back. She looked up at him from the rumpled bedclothes and giggled. “You look pretty smug, there, husband. You practically ooze satisfaction.”
“You satisfy me,” he told her solemnly. “Making love with you satisfies me, and so does lying here like this, just talking. I’m so lucky. A lot of wolves never choose a mate, and even those who do aren’t always accepted.”
“I love you, Sand.”
He would never get tired of hearing that. Her hair was scattered over the pillow, a beautiful frame for her beautiful face. “I love you, Amanda.”
“Come on!” She tossed the sheet back and got out of bed to stretch. “Tonight we’re going home for supper, remember? You looked fabulous in Sky’s suit. Let’s go buy you one.”
He tried to stifle his horror. “A suit? I need to wear a suit to eat with your dad?”
“Well, no.” She smoothed her face out, but he could smell her disappointment. “Not if you don’t want to.”
She was naked, pale and lovely and soft. He pulled her against him and kissed her hair. “I will if you want me to.”
She leaned back to look into his face. “I can tell you hate the idea.”
Already she knew him well enough to read him. “I don’t like suits, no. But if it will make you happy…”
Her finger was unbearably gently on his lower lip. “How about a pair of slacks and a dress shirt?”
“No tie?”
“No tie,” she confirmed.
“No coat?”
“No coat.”
He kissed her deeply. “No wonder I love you. You can buy me a shirt and pants and I’ll wear them. For you.”
“Thank you. We can go shopping now and if there are any alterations that need to be made…” She paused when he pressed her against his erection. “Again?”
Her voice held a little surprise, but no complaint. “If you don’t mind,” he said, straight-faced.
He loved her laugh, and adored her stroking fingers. “No, I don’t mind. We can go shopping a little later.”
Late that afternoon, Amanda held her husband’s hand as they strolled through the streets of Omaha to her father’s house. He looked handsome in his charcoal grey trousers and brick red raw silk shirt open at the throat. She had combed his hair and fastened it into a sleek tail that hung between his shoulder blades to the skinny black belt around his narrow waist. She decided every man with a high tight ass should have a pair of well tailored dress pants to show off his assets. Any woman would be proud to walk hand in hand with Sand, but no one else would ever have the chance, because he was hers.
It was a beautiful afternoon for a walk, sunny and warm, but not hot, with a light breeze. She had her mother’s hand knit shawl tucked into her bag, since the walk home might be chilly. It was a lengthy walk from The Limit in what was called the Gold Coast to her childhood home in the poor part of Omaha. They arrived and she tugged Sand to a halt at the edge of the bare yard to look at the small house.
“I’m going to miss it,” she said. “I know it’s not a big place, or even very nice, but it was home.”
Sand lifted their joined hands to his lips and kissed her fingers. “If I could, I would bring it with us to the den.”
“I know you would. But then where would my father live?”
“He’d always be welcome to live with us at the den.”
Amanda shook her head slowly. “Since my cousin has been named his legal ward, they couldn’t leave Omaha without paying a huge fee. Well, he could, but she couldn’t, and of course he’d never leave her behind.”
He stared at her for a moment, a strange look on his face that morphed into disgust. “Of course the greedy city fathers of Omaha wouldn’t let a woman out of their
grasp without being paid for it.”
Oh, God, she thought, looking around to see if anyone could overhear them. The City Guard didn’t patrol this neighborhood the way they did the more prosperous sections of the city, but anyone could inform on them. When she made frantic shushing motions at him he lowered his voice. “If she wants to leave, there are ways to smuggle her out of Omaha.”
She tugged his hand to get him moving to the house. “No, that would be too dangerous.”
He moved obediently toward the house. “How much is the fee?”
“I think it’s one hundred gold strips. I have a little money left, but not enough to pay that.”
Sand muttered something in Lakota and walked with her up the wooden steps to the front door. She knocked. He asked, “Why are you knocking? This is your home.”
“Not anymore. My home is with you from now on.”
Her father opened the door in the middle of her comment. “Now, that’s not quite true, little girl. Your home is with your husband, for sure, but this will always be your home. And Sand’s too.”
Sand shook her father’s hand and they all walked into the small living room. “Smells good,” Sand said.
Her cousin came in from the kitchen, wearing a smile and her novice uniform. Sand went to her and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “Supper smells delicious, cousin. Did you make some of your famous bread?”
Sara grinned. “No, but I made dinner rolls.”
Amanda went and gave her cousin a hug. “What can I do to help with supper?”
“Supper’s ready, but you could help carry food into the dining room.”
Sara was a good cook, much better than she was, Amanda admitted. The ham was the perfect mix of salty and sweet, and the beans were seasoned with a touch of garlic and butter. She slanted an eyebrow at Sand. “I hope you didn’t marry me for my cooking,” she said. “I suck at it.”
“We’ll eat with the rest of the Pack. The young wolves take turns in the kitchen and we all eat together.”