Elsa shivered in anticipation. She could wait a little bit longer to have Brand. It would only make their coming together more intense, especially since she doubted she’d be able to stop thinking about having him.
“Okay,” she said. “We’ll finish our drinks and then move to the bedroom.”
Brand rolled off her and stood in one smooth movement. Elsa sat up and reached for her jeans and panties. She sighed to herself when he shoved his cock back inside his pants and zipped them up. She could wait. It might kill her, but she could do it.
* * *
Brand watched Elsa tug on her jeans before she did her bra and blouse back up. He ached to stop her, wanting to continue with what they had started, but he kept silent. If he hadn’t already known Elsa was his mate, he would have known now. While she was in his arms, his eyesight had grown keener, heralding the change to wolf’s eyes. Also his claws had broken through the skin of his fingertips. Both were signs that she was his. The last thing would be while they made love. Just before he came, his cock would swell until Elsa and he were locked together. Once he reached release, he’d continue to come in half-minute intervals until the swelling went down. He knew all this from his mated fellows-in-arms.
What would happen between them had Brand wanting to slow things down just a touch. Elsa was going to notice—there was nothing he could do about that—but he planned to take his time with her. He’d eventually tell her what he was, though not today. He planned to make love to her, more than once, before he had to leave her to go on a night of hunting werewolves sired by Fenris the wolf. He’d waited so long to touch and taste her, sink his body into hers. He was going to have her before he told her the truth just in case she didn’t take the news too well. And from past experience with the other mates of his brothers-in-arms, Brand expected Elsa to react badly.
Once Elsa was dressed, they sat on the couch. Brand passed Elsa her drink before he grabbed his beer. He put his arm around her and tucked her against his side. She leaned into him. He drew in a lungful of air, the scent of her arousal still strong around them. His blood rushed hotly through his veins, and his cock throbbed with unfulfilled desire.
“I like sitting here with you like this,” Elsa said. “But I still think it would be better if we moved to my bedroom.”
He chuckled. “Patience.”
“That’s easy for you to say. You know, it’s not nice to get a girl all hot and bothered and then tell her to wait.”
Brand kissed the top of Elsa’s head. “I promise to make it up to you. I want to get to know you a bit better.”
She sighed dramatically. “All right, though there isn’t much more to tell. Besides my parents, I have an older sister. She’s my best friend. And speaking of her, she wanted to know if you have any single friends. Renea sometimes goes through men like tissue.”
He smiled. “I only have one friend who is unattached. The others are all married, and two of them have started families.”
“I’ll have to meet this friend of yours then. I can check him out and see if he’d be a good match for my sister.”
“You’ll meet Chris and the others once I bring you to my place. We all live together.”
Elsa swallowed the mouthful of wine she’d taken. “You all live in the same house? Even your friends with kids?”
“Yes. They’re more like family than just strictly friends.”
“How many of you are there?”
“Fourteen. Five couples and two babies.”
Elsa’s eyes widened. “Holy crap, that’s a lot of people for one house. Your place must be bloody huge.”
“It’s a manor house.”
“Of course it is,” she said with a laugh. “How else would you comfortably fit that many people in a place?” Elsa took another sip of her wine. “You aren’t drinking your beer.”
Brand took a huge swig from the bottle he held, drinking a quarter of it. “Is that better?”
“Much. The faster you drink, the faster we get back to the good stuff.”
“You always this impatient?”
“When I want something, yes.” Elsa met Brand’s gaze, giving him a heated look. “And I definitely want you.” She then took a big sip of her wine, which drained the glass.
Brand lost the battle to cool things down a bit. The way she stared at him made his cock even harder. It pressed uncomfortably against his zipper, probably leaving an imprint on his dick. He mentally said to hell with his plans and downed the rest of his beer in two big swallows.
Not saying a word, Brand rose to his feet before he turned to face Elsa and looked down at her. He reached out his hand. Once she placed hers in his, he picked her up and swung her over his shoulder so her head hung down his back. He walked in the direction of the bedroom.
She giggled. “I have to say I have a very nice view of your arse in this position.”
“And I of yours,” he said, and reached up to fondle her ass, running a finger along the seam of her jeans until he delved between her thighs. He heard Elsa’s breath hitch.
Brand stepped into the bedroom and walked straight to the queen-size bed. He lowered her onto the mattress and stood at the side of it as he stared down at Elsa. Already there was a splash of color on her cheeks, her breathing had grown faster, and the scent of her arousal permeated the air around them. He bit back a growl of need that threatened to rumble out of him. She looked beautiful sprawled on the bed, but she’d look even better naked.
“Take your clothes off for me,” he said in a voice husky with arousal.
She peered at him wantonly as she reached for the buttons on her blouse. Elsa took her time undoing them and then pushed the silky fabric off her shoulders and down her arms. She gave it a toss over the side of the bed. Next, she undid her bra, and it followed in the blouse’s wake.
Brand gazed at her more-than-a-handful breasts, which were tipped with taut, rosy-pink nipples. His cock jerked, throbbing in time with his rapidly beating heart. Somehow he managed to stay where he was, watching as Elsa took off her jeans. She hooked her panties with her fingers and slowly pulled them down past her hips and long, toned legs. She teased him and damn well knew it.
Hungering for her, he reached for the bottom of his T-shirt and yanked it over his head before he tossed it to the floor. Brand placed his hands on the top of his jeans to undo them, but Elsa rose on her knees and shook her head.
“Not so fast,” she said, and slid off the mattress to stand in front of him. “I get to take off the rest of your clothes. But first I want to have a better look at you.”
He sucked in a sharp breath as she trailed a hand across his chest. She moved to stand at his side and ran her fingers up his left arm, starting at his wrist and working her way up to the cap of his shoulder where Tiw, the Anglo-Saxon god known as the sky father, had put his mark after Brand had vowed to serve him. Done in black, it depicted the figure of a stylized man flanked on either side by two stylized wolves standing on their hind legs. The man symbolized Tiw, while the wolves represented Brand and the rest of the warriors.
Elsa traced the mark with a fingertip. “I love your tattoo.”
“Thanks,” he said gruffly.
She shifted back to his front and undid his pants. She shoved her hand down the front and grasped his cock. Brand couldn’t hold back a moan. The feel of her touching him so intimately kicked his libido into high gear. Elsa gave him a good squeeze before she pulled her hand out and pushed his jeans down. Once his pants reached his ankles, he stepped out of them and kicked the garment away.
Brand cupped the back of Elsa’s head and brought her closer as he took her mouth with his own. She wrapped her hand around his cock again and pumped it. He moaned against her lips while she worked his shaft. He loved the taste of her on his tongue.
Needing to be inside Elsa, he gently pulled her hand off him and picked her up. He placed her on the bed and followed her down. Brand reached between her legs and caressed her pussy. His fingers came away wet with her juices. He pushed one i
nside and then a second. He pumped them in and out. Elsa’s inner muscles gripped them, and her hips lifted, matching the pace he set.
“Now, Brand,” she said, panting. “I want you now. Don’t make me wait any longer.”
He pulled his fingers out of her just as the tips burned and his claws pushed through his skin. He knew his eyes had already gone wolf, which he tried to hide from Elsa by keeping them only open to mere slits.
Brand shifted fully on top of Elsa with his hips wedged between her spread thighs. The tip of his cock came to rest against her slick opening. She wrapped her arms around him as he pushed the head inside her pussy, and then he slowly worked himself deeper until she’d taken him to the hilt. He canted back his hips, almost pulling all the way out, before he surged back into her. Her inner muscles gripped him, increasing the pleasure he felt. His cock grew harder when he pumped at a faster pace.
He took her in hard thrusts, the sound of her moans filling his ears. Brand reached under Elsa and took hold of her bottom to angle her hips where he wanted them, careful not to scratch her with his claws. A low wolf’s growl rumbled out of his chest. It wasn’t going to take much for him to find his release. She felt way too good. Elsa put her legs around his waist and locked her ankles at the small of his back. She met each of his strokes. The sound of their harsh breathing filled the room.
Feeling the point of no return edging ever nearer, Brand said huskily, “Come, Elsa. I can’t hold back for long.”
“Almost there.” She then let out a keening moan.
Brand felt her pussy rhythmically clutch his cock as Elsa climaxed. Her strong inner walls squeezed his shaft in a tight fist, milking him into his own orgasm. His erection swelled until he no longer could move inside her. Their bodies became locked together. He groaned, a bit of a wolf’s growl mixing with it, as he emptied himself deep inside her. Brand collapsed on top of Elsa and held her tight against him. Fighting to catch his breath, he felt himself come again.
Elsa ran a caressing hand along his back. “That was amazing.” She sucked in a breath as his cock pulsed once more, sending a splash of cum into her. “Are you still coming?” She tried to shift under him, but Brand stopped her from moving much. “And are we … stuck … together?”
He lifted most of his weight off her, resting his upper body on his bent arms and then lowered his head to brush a kiss across her lips. “Yes to both those questions. Does it bother you?”
“Not really, it’s just … different. Oh, you did it again.”
After that last pulse, Brand felt the swelling in his cock go down somewhat. “Only with you.”
“What?”
“This has only happened with you.”
“And you don’t find that strange?”
He grinned and kissed the tip of her nose. “No.”
“That’s all you have to say about it? Just no?”
Now able to pull out of Elsa, Brand rolled to his back, taking her with him so she lay on top. “It just means you turn me on so much I can’t control myself.” He kissed her slow and deep before he released her mouth. “Shall we see if you can make me come like that again?”
She gave him a sexy smile. “That would be my pleasure, as well as yours.”
Chapter Three
Elsa lay naked under the covers on her bed as she watched Brand walk back into the room, equally naked. He’d gone to use the loo. She ran her gaze over his body. She’d licked, tasted, and explored every inch of him over the last couple of hours. They’d also made love four times. The man seemed insatiable. Not that she minded. She couldn’t get enough of him. He touched her, and her body instantly reacted, growing wet and aching.
Then she thought about what happened each and every time Brand came. His cock swelled to the point that they were locked together, and he came a hell of a lot longer than any guy she’d slept with before. He didn’t seem worried about it, so neither did she. It wasn’t exactly “normal,” but it didn’t make the sex bad, by any means.
Brand collected his clothes and then sat on the bed next to her. She trailed a hand up and down his hard, muscular thigh. “You really have to go?”
“Yes, but I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“So I can’t talk you out of it?” She sat up, the covers falling away from her breasts as she leaned against him and nipped his earlobe. “And there’s nothing I can do to change your mind?”
“No,” he said, his voice sounding a little strained.
“Damn. Well, I tried.” Elsa put some space between them. “I guess I’ll admit defeat. When will you come over tomorrow?”
“In the morning, however early you’ll let me.”
“If that’s the case…” She slid off the bed and walked over to her dresser. She picked up the two keys that sat on top of it and then turned and went back to Brand. Elsa held them out. “Then take these. They were Teddy’s set to the flat. This way you can come as early as you want, even if I’m still sleeping.”
He met her gaze with his. “Are you sure?”
“Yes. I trust you.” She placed the keys in his hand and closed his fingers over them.
And Elsa did trust Brand. She felt as if she’d known him longer than a day. He was comfortable to be around. Though he wasn’t much of a conversationalist, that didn’t bother her in the least. She tended to be on the talkative side and more than made up for his reticence. When Brand held her in his strong arms, she wanted to melt into him. He’d also done a great job of erasing all the intimate moments she’d had with her ex. Teddy was only a bad, vague memory now.
Brand tugged her down onto his lap and kissed her until her toes curled, and his cock was hard and pressing against her bottom. Once he let her up for air, Elsa wiggled a bit, hoping it would encourage him to stay a little longer.
He kissed her again before he shifted her onto the bed. “Nice try, but I really do have to go.”
“Fine,” she said.
Elsa watched Brand stand to tug his jeans on. The man had the nicest ass she’d ever seen. Actually, he had the nicest everything she’d ever seen. He flipped his long hair over his shoulders before he donned his T-shirt, covering his muscular chest and the tattoo on his left arm. She’d already gotten to inspect it with great detail, as well as the rest of his body.
Once he was completely dressed, Elsa went to her closet and pulled out her bathrobe before she put it on. She then followed Brand out of the room. As he headed for the door, she remembered something.
“Oh, I almost forgot. You don’t have my phone number. I should give it to you just in case you need to call me.”
He reached into the front pocket of his jeans and took out his mobile phone. “I’ll put it in my contacts.”
She rattled off the number as Brand pushed the buttons on his mobile. When he suggested she take his, Elsa went to the kitchen and got her purse and entered it into her phone.
With one last kiss, Brand walked out of the flat. Elsa locked the door after him and then leaned back on it and sighed. A wide smile spread across her lips. Teddy’s dumping her had turned out to be a blessing in disguise. If Teddy hadn’t, she never would have met Brand, who was three times better than her ex. Instead of waking up the next morning feeling pissed off, she now had something infinitely better to look forward to.
* * *
Brand stepped into the manor house knowing he didn’t have much time left before he and his fellow warriors were to leave for a night of hunting. The others had yet to gather in the foyer, which they did before leaving. That was when Raed, their leader, gave them any last-minute instructions. As a mortal Raed had been known as Raedwald, the king of East Anglia. They all still considered him their king, even though Raed no longer thought of himself as such.
He looked toward the stairs to the upper level at the sound of light footsteps going down them. Maggie smiled as she met his gaze with her own. In the months since she’d come to live here with her mate, Dolf, she’d settled right into their “family.” Gone was the woman who’d been
terrified of them after being abducted by the former pack leader of Fenris’s get, Stephen. For a while there they’d all been worried she’d never get over her fear of Dolf. Brand had taken Maggie in hand, though, and had shown her she had nothing to fear from any of them, even though they were werewolves as well.
“Hi, Brand,” Maggie said when she reached the foyer and walked over to him. “Did you just get back in?”
He nodded. “Yeah.” He returned the smile she gave him.
“All ready to go out for a night of hunting?”
“Yes.” Maggie seemed to peer at him closely, studying him almost. “What?” he asked.
“You look … happy. Not that I think you’re always in a bad mood, but you tend to look, well, not in a good one. Plus, today you stayed out longer than you normally do.”
Figuring he’d have to tell everyone about Elsa now that he was on his way to making them true mates, he said, “I was with my mate.”
A huge smile spread across Maggie’s lips before she threw her arms around him and hugged him. “I’m so happy for you, Brand. I thought she was lost to you.”
He returned her embrace. “So did I.”
“Oi, stop manhandling my mate,” Dolf said as he came down the stairs.
Maggie pulled away and turned to face Dolf as he joined them. “Brand was hardly manhandling me, and for your information, I started it.”
Dolf tugged Maggie over to his side and draped his arm around her shoulders. “In that case, you’re only supposed to manhandle me like that.” He leaned toward Brand and sniffed. “Well, fuck me. You’ve been with a woman, and you even had sex.” Dolf grunted when Maggie smacked him on the stomach.
“Dolf, you shouldn’t make comments like that.”
“But it’s true, and it’s kind of hard for me not to pick it up, having a sensitive werewolf sense of smell. You don’t understand how big a deal this is. Brand hasn’t had sex in seven years. We all know that.”
Maggie’s gaze shot to Brand. “Seven years? Is that when you first met your mate?”
He nodded.
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