by Ruby Forrest
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Blake wasn’t interested in waiting around. Or so he told himself—he waited in the bed while Raelyn took her time in the bathroom, doing whatever it was she felt was so important to clean herself up. Blake still couldn’t quite believe the words that had come out of his mouth. Don’t take a shower. It was painfully obvious to him, even if Raelyn had no clue. Blake only wanted to smell her—the way her natural scent hung about her, layered with the smell of sex and his own body on her skin. He had marked her in a way that was invisible but powerful, and the shifter in Blake was luxuriating in it.
Raelyn didn’t say anything when she came to the bed, taking up the empty spot Blake had left. He was glad that she at least held back now, when he needed it most. Raelyn’s conversation at dinner had set him off in ways he hadn’t expected, but Blake wasn’t interested in post-sex talks. He needed her to remember that this wasn’t going to be permanent.
Then how long is it going to last? The voice in his mind teased him but Blake ignored it, rolling over and closing his eyes. He would find a way to make sure Raelyn wouldn’t talk and then he’d get back to his life and make sure never to accidentally connect with someone again. Maybe I’ll switch around sooner. Keep my matches for a shorter time. Blake fell asleep with preventative thoughts in his mind, flushing out the pleasant burn of sex.
He woke up long before Raelyn. All the better, he thought, gathering his things. Raelyn was still out cold when he finished dressing, leaving the room behind and removing the do-not-disturb hanger from the door. Blake’s trip home was quick, and he finished getting ready for work there. In the shower, he felt a spark of need and he almost reached down to touch himself before stopping. It wasn’t unusual for him to take care of things himself, occasionally—but Blake rarely did when he was seeing someone. He rarely felt the need to. She’s changing you, a voice at the back of his mind said, teasing. Blake slammed the water off and stepped out of the shower.
Blake always took time to shift before work. He felt looser when he did. Blake opened the door to his backyard and let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. The shift felt even better than he’d remembered; it was like he’d been holding the reins so tightly in his hand they had left cuts. Blake took a moment to breathe in the smell of dew and grass, the morning sun warm on his body. Instead of walking, he decided to run—it felt better than when he was upright; the earth seemed to move to meet him, and the world parted for every step he took.
By the time Blake was finished, he felt a haze of pleasure rippling through him. Shifting always left him feeling blurry—as if the two parts of him he tried to separate were bleeding into each other like watercolors. He went to work feeling oddly languid in a way that usually only happened when he was shifted, chasing through a deep part of the forest skirting the city limits. It felt good, and he smiled when he thought about how he had something to look forward to after work. I think I should pay Raelyn a visit.
Someone was knocking on her door. Raelyn groaned into her pillow, curling into the sheets covering her body. For a blissful moment, she started drifting, and then the knock came again. When Raelyn finally yawned and rose to stretch, she became startlingly aware that she was naked. What? Her skin felt odd and her hair was a mess of waves, tangled from sleep.
Things came back to her in a rush of pieces—meeting Blake, the dinner, coming back to the hotel. Raelyn practically jumped out of bed to throw a robe on, smoothing her hair as much as she could. The woman at the door seemed unaffected by Raelyn’s appearance and informed her the room was available for two more hours, asking if she wanted to extend the time. Raelyn declined—she couldn’t even begin to imagine how much it cost—and thanked the woman, retreating into the dark room.
He left, Raelyn thought. She wanted to be disappointed, but it wasn’t surprising. Blake had work and he wasn’t exactly the cuddling type. Raelyn would have to deal with it, for now. She took advantage of the shower, which was shockingly large—it was almost the size of her apartment bedroom. Raelyn turned the water to a hot spray and combed through the tangles in her hair, examining herself in the mirror. There were bruises on her hips, not violent but dark enough to show. She seemed unmarked other than that, and for some reason, Raelyn felt cheated. Even if it had been briefing, Blake had seemed to want her more than before, to make the first move. I guess we have time, though.
Raelyn was lost in thought when she stepped into the shower, but that didn’t stop something from floating to the surface of her mind. She remembered the feel of Blake’s hand between her legs and the way his chest felt against her back while he pushed her into the wall. God, that was hot. Raelyn couldn’t even feel embarrassed when she started adjusting the shower head and touching herself; she was too lost in the memory, thinking about what it would feel like to have Blake’s hands on her again.
The shower was foggy with steam when Raelyn finished. Once she dressed, she finally had the time and sense to feel like a fool. He’s not looking for a relationship, she reminded herself, checking out downstairs and returning to her waiting car. Raelyn couldn’t help but hope, though. The sex had been great, and Blake was driven. He had power and confidence, even if it was sometimes misused. If Blake would only stop hiding behind his uncaring words and the distance he forced between himself and his partner, Raelyn thought he could be perfect.
Perfect or not, Raelyn decided she would have to ask her unanswered questions the next time they met. She hadn’t forgotten the way Blake had so easily distracted her from what she wanted to ask twice already. After the last night, Raelyn figured he would at least feel fair enough to answer some things. Raelyn arrived home faster than she’d meant to and between balancing books for a few clients and doing some scheduling, she came up with a list. There were things she wanted to make sure of, if she was going to try and gain Blake’s trust.
It turned out that Blake was the one to send her a message. Raelyn was sitting at her computer, the clock’s hand ticking further past eleven with every passing minute. Her phone buzzed in the middle of a project and she unthinkingly reached for it, barely tearing her eyes away from the screen in front of her to answer the message. Raelyn noticed with surprise that it was from Blake. Meet after 6 was typed out, followed by an address. A quick search told Raelyn it was, predictably, an upscale apartment. Is it his, or someone else’s? Does he have more than one? She didn’t add the questions to her list, but Raelyn did smile and wonder what it meant that he’d contacted her again so soon.
Raelyn wasn’t sure what to expect. Blake hadn’t seemed to be intent on sex when they’d gone to dinner, but he’d been quick to jump at the chance when it was offered. Raelyn wondered if he was holding back or fighting his feelings. It didn’t make sense to her, with how ready he’d been to shift and protect her. It was just another unanswered question she wasn’t sure she would get the answer to.
“You’re in a good mood,” Aaron said. He stood at Blake’s desk with a cup of coffee, pushing his hair back from his face.
Blake gestured at the glasses resting on Aaron’s nose. “You are too. Did you forget a change of contacts when you spent the night at someone else’s house?”
Aaron snorted. He perched on the edge of the desk, forgoing manners. On any other day, Blake might have snapped at him, but he didn’t care enough, today. He was in a good mood, no matter how much he wanted to deny it. His morning run had been perfect and being with Raelyn for the night had done good things for his body, even if his mind was still conflicted about how to feel.
“Nice deflection. How did the dinner go? Was Raelyn properly quiet?” Aaron asked, something like irony in his tone. Blake shot him a look.
“She wasn’t. I appreciated it after, though.”
Aaron wrinkled his nose and sipped his coffee. “Thank you for that. Well, at least it’s nice to know that you can change. What kind of boring man wants a mute partner?”
“The kind that doesn’t trust someone else when they open their mouth.�
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“See, that’s your problem. Sometimes, a mouth opens for you to put something in it.”
Blake sighed and flipped one of the folders on his desk open. “Don’t you have something to be doing? Or are you as useless as I think you are?”
Aaron grinned. He’d found whatever information he was looking for, Blake suspected, even if Blake had no clue what he’d given away. Aaron left, and Blake stared at his phone, not realizing five minutes had passed until it lit up with an e-mail alert.
Blake had texted Raelyn on impulse. He’d been thinking about her, with the stockings they’d probably ruined and her hair falling over her shoulders and down her back. Blake had thought about her violet eyes, so dark they were almost blue, and the way she’d come alive under his touch. Thoughts of Raelyn had been so distracting he’d been forced to leave his desk and walk around the office, burning through the growing desire threatening to throw him off the rails.
He was ready to see her again. The first time, he’d been rushed and thoughtless. Blake had planned the way he’d take her apart for the first time, but his plans had crumbled when he saw her in the hotel room. Blake should have felt cheated, but he couldn’t. Not when he’d been pleased by the way things went, anyway. Now, he was just waiting to see her again, and this time, with a plan.
Blake left work and went straight to the apartment he’d given Raelyn the address for. It was one of his favorite places in the city, despite having no room for him to enjoy shifting. The upscale place was soundproof, which meant he had no issues bringing women. It was also fitted with one-way glass film, creating some interesting opportunities. Blake was already imagining the way Raelyn would look up against the windows when the doorbell rang.
She was surprisingly underdressed. He still appreciated the way her clothes fit, of course—her jeans were tight and hugged her curves; the black t-shirt she wore had a neck that cut low and dipped just over her chest. Even her hair looked good in a messy ponytail, a few strands falling around her face.
“I would have brought something else, but I know you like dressing me,” Raelyn said. Her smile wasn’t as innocent as her words. Blake wanted to pull her in and rip her clothes off, but he settled for letting her pass.
“It’s not necessary, today,” Blake said, shrugging. He almost continued, but Raelyn turned toward him.
She tilted her head, and some of the desire in her eyes was pushed back. “Does anyone else know about you?”
Whatever he’d expected, it wasn’t Raelyn’s question. His excitement started to fade as he considered how to answer—or if he should at all. I have no reason to, he thought, but something compelled him to open his mouth and say, “My brother.”
Blake felt a shiver run up his spine. His instinct told him to push Raelyn away. She was a diversion, not a permanent fixture in his life; Blake tried to form the words to say as much, but he couldn’t. All he could think of was the way she smelled and how the shifter in him was pleased that she was his. He didn’t want to be wasting time talking about how different he was, but the shifter in him only cared about keeping Raelyn—and keeping her meant talking.
“Really? Is he like you? Wait—” Raelyn stopped herself, holding a hand up. “That’s not fair. I won’t ask you to tell me.”
She was asking questions, but Blake could still feel the electricity between them. It was why he’d come back to her when he knew he shouldn’t have. It was why he was still letting her into his life. As much as Blake hated ties and hated the possibility of being betrayed again, he hated starting over every week with someone new. It was exhausting. Besides, there was something about Raelyn that called to him in a way he’d never experienced before. She made him want to shift almost as much as she made him want to stay a man and hold her. Raelyn reached both sides of him, and he couldn’t fight all of his body at once.
“Is that all?” Blake asked. His voice was low. His eyes traveled over the bare skin at her neck and chest, his hands itching to reach out and touch.
“No,” Raelyn said, but she was distracted. She was barely breathing. He could see the way her pupils dilated and the slight shiver that ran up her body. “I have other questions.”
Blake reached out and slipped her jacket over her shoulders; it fell to the floor with a soft thump. “Really? Are they just as boring? I don’t have time, you know.”
Raelyn reached out as if she wanted to start undressing him, but Blake neatly pushed her arms away. He wasn’t interested in her help or being touched. Blake only wanted to make Raelyn fall apart under him. He’d been lying when he said he didn’t have time; Blake had cleared his morning schedule before he left work, to Aaron’s unending amusement. Blake had planned on being up late with Raelyn. He’d looked forward to it.
“They’re not boring. I’m not boring,” Raelyn said, but she stumbled over her words and couldn’t quite seem to come up with anything else.
“Prove it,” Blake said. He hid his smile as he pulled her shirt off, tossing it to a corner.
It worked like a charm. His challenge made Raelyn’s eyes sharpen, something fiery coming to life. When she kissed him, it wasn’t soft or loving; it was as if she were fighting a war. Blake appreciated it—he liked the way Raelyn didn’t back down. She gave as much as she got, and she tried to push back against him even when Blake held her in place.
Blake had Raelyn undressed before she could even touch him. He pulled her toward the bedroom, with its ceiling-to-floor windows. The street was visible not far below and there were people out and about, walking home making their way to dinner and drinks. It was perfect. Raelyn made a surprised noise when they entered, her arms flying up like she wanted to cover herself. Blake caught her wrists and pushed her hands to her sides, walking up to the window.
“Why hide?”
Raelyn’s breath hitched in her throat. Her legs were shaking a little, but it wasn’t from fear. He could tell just how turned on she was. Her reply was lightning-quick. “Why would I give them a free show?”
“So, they know,” Blake mused. He held her wrists with one hand, slipping out of his shirt and switching his grip. He tied Raelyn’s wrists together and watched her test the knot.
“Know what?” Raelyn finally asked. Her hips moved back against him.
“That you’re mine.” Blake pushed a finger into her, punctuating the sentence, and Raelyn let out a soft moan. She was almost burning with heat and Blake teased her, moving slowly, barely inching into her. He waited until she was begging and then waited longer, enjoying the sweet sound of her cursing at him. Blake wanted nothing more than to take, but he was invested in the sound of Raelyn’s moaning and the way she crumbled at his touch.
Eventually, Blake quickened his pace. He added fingers and worked her into a mess, watching Raelyn try to change her position in an effort to make Blake hit the right spots. Despite her struggle, Blake kept Raelyn in place. He didn’t want her finishing until he decided she could. It was sometime after her breath came in gasps and her breasts were pressed against the glass that Blake finally adjusted to Raelyn, moving so fast her noises of pleasure became an endless stream of ecstasy. Raelyn came hard and fast, shuddering as Blake withdrew his hand.
Blake didn’t waste time talking. He moved Raelyn toward the bed, noting her dazed expression and the way she collapsed onto the mattress, her chest still heaving. Blake was removing the rest of his clothes as she lay there, watching her with a plan in his mind. “Turn over.”
There was a flash of conflicting emotion on Raelyn’s face; disbelief and interest warred with each other as she pushed herself up on her elbows, turning uneasily with hands still tied together. Blake briefly wondered how many times in a row she’d gone before and if Raelyn had ever entertained the idea of marathon sex. Blake hadn’t planned on it, but the idea was starting to sound appealing.
There was a bottle of lube on his bedside table. Blake had used it a few times, with only a handful of women he’d brought to the apartment. He save
d the space for more adventurous partners; ones that agreed to his terms and didn’t mind staying for days just to be waiting for him after work.
“Wait—” Raelyn started to say. She could barely raise her body, turning to look at him over her shoulder. “I haven’t done this in a while.”
“I’ll take care of it,” Blake said, pushing her shoulder with his free hand. He’d expected as much.
Raelyn didn’t protest again, instead waiting for Blake to slick his fingers. His mind was racing ahead—he was already wondering how her ass would feel and if she’d be even tighter than she was at the hotel, when she hadn’t been wearing underwear to hide how wet she’d been. Blake didn’t mind getting his hands dirty. Using his hands was one of his favorite things to do—he liked making his partner pliable and oversensitive before even taking his underwear off. So, Blake stretched Raelyn, listening to her groan at the sensation.
“You like it, don’t you?” Blake asked. He pulled his underwear off with his free hand, preparing his cock with the lube left on his hand. “When’s the last time you did this? Too long, wasn’t it?”
Chapter Eleven
Raelyn felt like her head was spinning. She’d fallen apart with Blake fingering her, and she’d been ready for him when he’d decided to play with her ass instead. He was right, of course—Christian was the last person that she’d had anal sex with, and he hadn’t been half as good at preparing her. Raelyn didn’t know it could feel good the way Blake was stretching her, but she was already feeling hot again.
“Long enough,” Raelyn said, her breath coming in short gasps. She tried to lift her hips and meet Blake, but his hand held her firmly in place. If he’d just let me move, she thought, I could show him I know what I’m doing.