by Sofia Grey
*
Megan normally couldn’t wait to get dressed and make a rapid exit, but this time, just this once, she would indulge a little longer.
“I’ve never met anyone quite like you before.” I never knew it could be so good. She traced her index finger across his chest and drew a little circle. “How are you finding New Zealand?”
Sleepy lidded eyes gleamed at her. “I like it. I’d wanted to travel for a while and this just felt right. I landed in Wellington on a warm October day last year and I’ve been here since.” He gave her a squeeze and nuzzled her throat. “And you? Have you always lived here?”
“Uh-huh. When I graduated I did my backpacking-round-Europe trip, but that’s all, apart from holidays and such.” She lifted her head and pressed a sleepy kiss against his lips. “I went to visit Wales, by the way. I wanted to see where Gran came from.”
“Where did you go?”
“She grew up near Cardiff, but came from Bangor originally. Is that anywhere near your home?”
“Not far. What did you think of it?” There was a curious look on his face, as though her answer was important and not just idle pillow talk.
“I loved it. I felt quite at home.” Did he look relieved? “It’s not too different to some of the scenery here. Do you get homesick at all?”
He opened his mouth to reply just as a cell phone chirruped.
*
Sasha recognized the ringtone as an incoming text from Tammy. It would be the stupid-early hours of the morning for her and he instantly worried. “That’s my sister. Give me a minute, Cariad.”
“She still in the UK? It must be the middle of the night.”
He scrambled out of bed and dug the phone from a pocket in his abandoned jeans.
Hey Crasher. You ok? Had a funny feeling. Txt me. X
She must have sensed his joy with Megan. He fought to keep the grin from his face and contemplated what to tell the girl lying on his bed.
“Is she okay?”
“Uh, yeah. I think.” He tapped out a rapid reply. This was big news. Huge. Too important to share via a text.
Hey Tamster. All good. Talk tonight?
Seconds later, his phone beeped with a Facetime request from Tammy and he groaned inwardly. He glanced up at Megan. “I need to talk to her. I won’t be long. Promise.”
Chapter 11
“No worries.” Megan blew him a kiss and tugged up the lightweight quilt to cover her head. He stepped out of the room and pulled the door closed behind him. It didn’t shut completely and Megan could still hear the conversation.
“Crasher. It must be the middle of the afternoon, why are you butt naked?” She had a softer version of Sasha’s lilting accent. Crasher?
“Tamster.” Ah, nicknames. “Is everything okay, sis? You look like shit.”
A hesitant laugh. “Thanks, bro. I’m not sleeping well at the moment. I’ve got a stomach upset and that’s not helping.”
“Stomach pains?” He sounded surprised. “I’ve been feeling them too. Sweets, have you been to the doctor?”
“Nah, don’t be silly. I’m too busy with this new project for Jake. The Pack retreat.”
“Uh-huh.” He interrupted her mid-speech. “I’ve uh, got company, sis.”
“I knew it!” She sounded triumphant and amused. Megan listened carefully, pulling the quilt down a little way, to hear better. “There’s something you’re not telling me, bro. Who is she? Or is it a he?”
“Tamster.” Sasha’s voice was firm. “Her name is Megan, and I’ll ring you later. ‘Kay?”
“You went all that way and managed to find a Welsh wolf in Wellington?” Megan heard a stream of giggles. A wolf? Some private joke. “Uh, sorry. I’m a bit sleep deprived. Well done, bro. Can I say hello to her?”
“Not right now, Tam.” There was a long pause and then a mumble from Sasha she couldn’t make out.
“I’ll, uh, talk to you later, bro. Love ya.”
“Yeah, love ya, sis.”
*
Sasha tossed his phone onto the bedside cabinet and slipped under the covers to wrap his arms around Megan. His mind whirled. He’d always been close to Tammy and growing up, they’d each known instantly when the other was in trouble or wracked by strong emotions. She’d felt his joy for Megan, and that made him feel good, but for him to feel her stomach pains, she must be ill. He’d call his mum later and sound her out. He snuggled down to face his beautiful Mate and trailed a series of tiny kisses along her jawbone. His dick was hard again, but this time, he planned a long slow fuck.
“Crasher?” Her brown eyes showed her amusement and he tried to regroup.
“Baby, were you listening? I should have introduced you to my nosy sister.” He gave her a cocky grin. “You’ll love her. I don’t think she’s well though, she says she’s having stomach problems.” His gut twinged at the words and he pressed a hand against the pain, moments before it disappeared. “Your brothers are twins. Do they ever catch each other’s feelings?”
She creased her forehead as she thought. “Yeah. Hugh fell off his bike and broke his arm when they were little. Alex complained that his arm hurt so badly he wanted a sling too.” She paused. “Why does she call you Crasher?”
“Tam used to tease me about crashing round the house when we were small. My mum always knew where I was, by the noise I made.”
“Why does that not surprise me?” Megan snuggled closer to him. “Is she okay? Your sister?”
“I hope so.” He nudged at her gently. “Roll over, baby.” She complied, and then tucked herself into his body, spooning against him as naturally as if they did this every night. Her neck was perfect for nuzzling and when he lifted a hand to curve around her breast she pushed her butt against his hard-on. He retaliated with a nip to her earlobe. The taste of her skin made all his senses sing out and he was a heartbeat away from another taste when a phone rang. Hers.
“Ignore it,” he whispered. He trailed his tongue down the side of her neck and felt her tremble in his arms. Whoever it was, they could wait. He planned to kiss every inch of her skin, a slow assault on her restraint, and tease her until she screamed his name. The need to Claim her burned at him. He could place his Claiming mark on her neck and she’d think it was just a love bite. Mine, rumbled his wolf. Her phone chimed again and he tightened his hold on her. “They’ll leave a message if it’s important.” He conveniently ignored the way he’d leaped to answer Tammy’s message and instead, closed his mouth around the base of her neck in an open mouthed kiss. Sweet Jesus, she tasted like heaven.
The way she went limp in his arms reassured him that she was pleased and he nuzzled lower, easing toward the sensitive skin where neck met shoulder. He’d place his mark here. He used one hand to tangle in her hair, drawing a whimper of pleasure, and the other to caress her breast, drawing circles around her nipple with his thumb.
“Sasha,” she murmured. He didn’t want to hear about her phone again. He licked the site for his mark, blew a gentle breath across it and tilted her head slightly to give him perfect access. His cock ached and his wolf was hungry for her.
“Cariad,” he whispered, and inhaled her scent. Now, he understood what all the fuss was about, how a wolf’s Mate was their perfect match, their soul mate. Common sense nudged a warning—was it fair to Claim her without her knowing?—but desire and instinct overruled and he closed his teeth around her skin.
*
Sasha’s thumb rasped across her super sensitive nipple and sent little shocks radiating outward. Pain and pleasure coalesced and she moaned, reluctant to move, even though her phone continued to trill. Whoever it was, they really wanted to speak to her. She tried to summon the words to tell Sasha to stop, but dear God, if he carried on playing with her nipple like that, she’d come.
When his teeth dug into her, she gasped for air and bucked under his hand as the explosive orgasm flashed over her. Two facts jostled for attention in her fuzzy post-climax brain: her damn phone was ringing again—and Sasha ha
d actually bitten her. She lifted weak fingers to her neck and touched the spot: it stung, even though he’d licked it straight after.
“You bit me.” She fought to take a deep, calming breath. Her heart pattered along, still excited, and Sasha made a rumbling noise of approval, his lips dancing over her shoulder. “Sasha, why d’you do that?” Megan shook off his hand and craned her neck to try and see it. For Chrissake, her father would throw a fit if she turned up with a love bite. She was supposed to be a professional young woman, and now she’d look more like a horny teenager.
Ignoring Sasha’s arm snaking around her waist, she scrambled out of the bed and reached for her handbag, to grab her phone before it stopped ringing.
It was Hugh. “Dad’s been looking for you. Are you going to be long?”
She took a quick breath, her eyes meeting Sasha’s. “Hello to you too. What’s the emergency? You knew I was going out.”
“You were supposed to be going for lunch, not falling off the ends of the earth.” Hugh sounded snarky, which was unusual for him. He was normally the peacekeeper. “There’s a bunch of extra people coming for dinner and the chef’s gone sick. He’s sent a replacement, but Dad’s getting stressed and Clare’s in Auckland, and you’re the only one that can pull it together.”
Sasha climbed out of bed while Hugh was speaking and wrapped his arms around her from behind. With his lips on her nape and his hands roaming her body, the last thing she felt like doing was organizing her father’s dinner party. Warm fingers tiptoed down her stomach and skirted her pelvis to stroke the junction between her legs. Her breath hitched and Hugh must have heard it. “Megan? How long will you be?” Sasha pressed the heel of his hand to her clit and she trembled. She had to reply to Hugh. Desperate for words, she cleared her throat and tried to ignore the myriad of delightful sensations radiating from her body.
‘I’m uh, I won’t be long.”
“Meggie.” Hugh injected a note of pleading into his voice. “We need you at home. I know you went out with Sasha, but come on. This is important.”
So is Sasha. She swallowed her first, hot retort and spoke as clearly as she could. “I’ll be there as soon as I can. Okay?” It still came out as a squeak.
*
Sasha’s keen hearing had picked up every word of the conversation and he couldn’t help wondering if it was just a ploy to keep Megan away from him. The moment she dropped the phone back into her bag, he began to kiss his way down her spine.
“I have to go.” Whaaat? She wriggled free and stepped away. A cold space fell between them and Sasha bit back his annoyance.
“Cariad,” he coaxed. “I thought you could stay the afternoon?”
Already tugging panties up her legs, she glanced at him. “I’m sorry. I promised to help and there’s a problem with the chef, and Dad’s freaking out…” her words trailed away and she colored under his gaze. “Would you please take me home?”
He tried his best come-to-bed smile. “Ten minutes. Let me have another ten minutes with you first.” He waggled his eyebrows. “I bet I can make you come again.” He licked his lips and remembered the intoxicating taste of her skin, the way his body had come alight when he’d bitten her. The Claiming mark showed clearly on her pale skin and he felt a surge of pride that she was his. His Mate. Any wolves would keep their distance now. He was a little fuzzy on the mechanics of claiming a human Mate, how she would recognize—would accept—their bond, but he could talk that through with Jake.
She hesitated and Sasha held out his hand, confident she’d stay a little longer. He needed to hold her. His wolf demanded that he take her again, and he was in total agreement.
“I can’t.” She turned away, picked up her bra and wriggled into it, the way girls did, all straps and clasps behaving under her hands. Sasha felt a moment of anxiety. This wasn’t how it was supposed to happen. If nothing else, they should have the afternoon together and it was barely three p.m.
Seconds later, she’d shimmied into the clingy dress, all her curves covered but still so delectable. His mouth watered at the thought of her body, at how responsive she was. How right she was. Think, Sasha. Keep her talking. “Why don’t I, uh, come with you? Maybe I can help?” That was an idea. “I’m good in the kitchen.”
Megan dug into her bag and produced a hair tie, then turned to stare into the small mirror on his wall. “Shit.” Angry eyes reflected back at him. “What the hell did you bite me for? It’ll be a pain to cover up. It’s so, so…juvenile.” It’s my mark. His wolf whined in sympathy, but Megan hadn’t finished yet. “Are you going to take me home or do I need to call a cab?”
Chapter 12
Megan shot Sasha a sideways glance as they crawled through the Saturday afternoon traffic. To give him credit, once he realized she was serious about leaving he’d dressed, grabbed his keys, and hustled her out to the van. Apart from a grumble about how busy the roads were, he’d stayed silent. Their hands were linked though, and rested on his warm thigh. Was he cross with her? Frustrated? Anxiety pooled in her gut.
“I wish I could’ve stayed longer.” He squeezed her fingers, and reassured, she continued. “I’ll see you later, at the club?” Megan hated the needy tone that crept into her voice. A guy like Sasha would have girls crawling all over him. If she came across as clingy she’d probably be dropped faster than she could say the words ‘hot potato.’
He looked at her briefly, before turning his attention back to the road. “I thought I was staying to help you this afternoon? At your place?” He sounded surprised. Thank you, God, he’s not dumping me.
“Yes of course, if you’re sure. I don’t know what level of chaos to expect, and Dad’s not picking up my calls.”
“Uh-huh. And yeah, I’ll be hauling gear for Dion tonight.” He flashed a cheeky grin that made her stomach flutter. “And dancing with you again.” Her cheeks heated at the memory of their dancing the night before, the way he’d pressed up against her and held back the jostling crowd on the tiny dance floor.
“Yes please.”
“Do you want to stay the night?” His hand tightened around hers. “Maybe pick up a change of clothes and come back with me? Go to the club from my place?” Her heart thumped so hard, she was sure it’d be bruised. Stay the night? She’d never done that. Never woken up with a guy before. The enormity of it weighed against her chest and made it difficult to breathe. As casual as though he’d just asked her the time, Sasha lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed her fingers. “Cariad?”
“Yes, okay.” She tried to match his artless tone, to appear as relaxed about this huge step.
“Good.” He kissed her knuckles again. “You had me worried there for a moment. Thought you were going to dismiss me.”
He didn’t sound worried and she caught a flash of dimple and twinkling eyes. “Why would I do that?” She played along, loving the way he de-stressed her with just a few words.
“I don’t want you taking one look at Dion and deciding he’s a better offer.”
“Hmm,” she pretended to think about it. “He does own the van.”
“Is that all I need to do to steal your heart, Megan? Buy a rust-bucket?”
It would be all too easy to fall in love with him. She feared he’d stolen her heart already.
*
Sasha had never been one for making plans. Jake usually despaired of his inability to be responsible, to see life as anything other than one long party, but as of now he was different. He had a Mate. His wolf strutted up and down and the man resisted the urge to swagger as he walked up to the front door of Megan’s mansion. He had the evening, night, and following day all planned out in his head. It revolved around Megan, of course, of how many different ways he could worship her body and make love to her. His housemate would be away for a few days and they’d have the house to themselves. He could hardly wait.
Megan led him down a long hallway and into a giant kitchen, the likes of which he’d only seen before in the movies. A tall man in chef whites snarle
d at a young woman wearing a flowered apron while another girl stood and watched, open-mouthed. Food covered every one of the kitchens gleaming surfaces and there were grocery bags and cartons dumped on the floor. Beside him, Megan took a deep breath. “You sure about this? It’s not going to be pretty.”
“Bring it on. Just tell me what you need.”
She smiled at him and then stepped forward into the fray. A hand on his arm grabbed his attention and with a sinking feeling, he turned to see one of the Hellspawn brothers. Hugh.
“Thanks for bringing her home. You can leave now.” Her brother smirked just a little and Sasha’s wolf growled. The arguing chef chose that moment to slam a saucepan onto the stove and Sasha jumped at the noise. He wasn’t going to stand by and watch that asshole assault his Mate and he strode forward, dragging Hellspawn as he went.
“Cut that out.” Sasha snarled at the chef. “There’s no need to yell.”
The chef responded in a torrent of French, and while Sasha tried to make sure Megan stood behind him and there were no carving knives in the immediate area, the girl in the flowered apron stomped out. “I quit.” The door banged behind her so hard the windows rattled.
What the hell had he walked into? And was this normal behavior? To his amazement, Megan was already calming the angry man, sitting him on a stool and chattering back in his own language. Then again, she’d had the native wolves eating out of the palm of her hand.
Ten minutes later, the chef was busy sorting through piles of groceries and muttering under his breath while Sasha had somehow been coaxed into the abandoned flowery apron and given a mountain of potatoes to peel. Hellspawn had disappeared with Megan, and the other girl sat at the table folding napkins into curious shapes. Peace reigned.