by Milly Taiden
The minute he reached her, he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her flush against his body. He kissed her too. A quick sensual brush of lips that inflamed every hormone in her body. He drove his tongue deep into her mouth, swiping and rubbing over hers.
Catcalls and whistles sounded around them. He pulled back and grinned. “Thanks for coming.”
Well, that took care of her PDA question. He grabbed her hand and led her to the bar.
“Don’t you have a bartender?” She asked as they rounded the bar entrance.
“I do, but she’s taking a break, and these guys love busting my chops.” He laughed and passed out beers to waiting patrons.
“Hey, Nate? My girlfriend wants something sexy.” A tall, blond guy yelled from a table. The woman sitting next to him ran a hand over his cheek and leaned her head into his shoulder.
“How sexy is sexy? I’m single,” someone else yelled.
The crowd by the bar broke into raucous laughter.
She watched Nate pass out drinks, and her hands itched to help him out.
“Sorry,” he smiled apologetically. “Just give me a few and Shirley will be back.”
“It’s okay.” She moved forward and took an empty beer bottle from the counter. Then another bottle popped up out of nowhere and another until she found herself passing bottles back and forth.
“Hey, Nate. My girlfriend wants her sexy drink.”
“What is she in the mood for?” Karla asked, taking the lead to get the woman a drink.
“Chocolate.” Replied the pretty brunette next to the tall guy.
“Do you mind?” She hated moving in on his bar, but it seemed he needed some help, and she missed making her Chocolate Seduction.
“Go right ahead.” A sinful grin split his lips. “My casa is your casa.”
She chuckled at his sad attempt at Spanish. “I need chocolate liqueur, chocolate fudge, and chocolate and marshmallow flavored vodka. Have anything like that?”
He pointed toward a row behind him. “I think we have some of that here. Usually the guys just want beer or shots, but Shirley likes all kinds of flavored drinks.”
“What are you making?” One of the guys at the counter asked.
Karla shrugged and poured different liquors into a martini shaker. “When I was in college, I took a bartending class to help me make some extra cash. I called it Chocolate Seduction. At the time, I was having a serious chocolate addiction and came up with my own version of a chocolate martini.”
She glanced up and was surprised to watch the group of men at the counter, including her very own wolf watching her intently.
“I’m Nick, I’m in construction,” said an older man with graying hair and a kind smile. “These are my employees.” He pointed to both sides of him.
“Nice to meet you, Nick. I’m Karla. I’m a teacher at Woodside Elementary.”
Nick’s warm smile mirrored the one of most of the people at the counter. “It’s nice to meet Nate’s mate.”
Ribbons of heat crowded her face. The crowd made her feel welcomed. She hadn’t expected their easy reception. “Thanks.” She glanced back down at her martini shaker and put the lid on it and started to shake. “Anyway, this drink became a big favorite at the bar I worked in for a semester.”
Taking the two martini glasses Nate handed her with a smile, she placed them next to a plate she’d lined with sugar.
The bar grew silent as everyone watched her work. She turned the martini glasses face down and dipped the rim in a large bowl she’d filled with chocolate liqueur. Then she coated the rim with the sugar. Once both glasses had their rims covered in sugar, she poured some of the mixed drink into each glass and then finished by garnishing with a dollop of chocolate fudge sauce in the center.
She placed one of the martini glasses on a tray, walked around the bar, and handed it to the tall guy’s girlfriend.
Karla watched the young woman take a sip of her drink. She blinked, and the woman had downed the rest. “That was delicious!”
The crowd in the bar cheered and clapped.
Karla smiled and headed back to her other drink. She passed the martini glass to Nick for a taste.
He eyed the tiny glass wearily, but tipped it back and swallowed the drink in one gulp. Nick licked his lips and smiled. “It’s like dessert in a cup.”
Another round of applause filled the bar. Karla laughed at Nick’s surprised expression. “Don’t let them get you, Nick. Too many and you’ll feel it in the morning.”
He chuckled and shook his head. “Not me, I’m a shifter. But I bet my mate would enjoy these. I’ll definitely recommend for her to come try this.”
Nate moved up beside her, curling his arm around her waist. “You do that, Nick. We’ll be adding Karla’s drink to the menu.”
She jerked her head sideways to see if he was joking. Even though he was smiling, he sounded serious.
“Come on, beautiful. Shirley’s here to take her throne back.” Nate grasped her hand in his and led her to the other side of the bar.
“It was nice to meet you, Karla!” The guys at the counter yelled.
“It was nice to meet you all.” She waved and turned a smile at Nate. “They’re really nice. I can see why you’d like being here.”
“Thanks for coming. Your being here means a lot.” He pulled his office door open and showed her inside. “Plus, I got to find out something new about you.”
She shrugged. “It’s just a little drink. But thanks for having faith in me and letting me try my hand at mixing again.”
He sat down and pulled her on to his lap, shifting her to her side to glance at her face. “Feel free to come here any time you want. Anyway, I wanted you to come here because I know you got a minor in business and marketing and wanted your opinion on rebranding the bar.”
A new happiness bubble filled her heart. Nate including her in his business meant more than he knew. “I’ll answer any question you have as best as I can.”
He drove a hand into her hair and pulled her head down. “I think we should test out the sturdiness of my desk first. He pressed his lips over hers and all thoughts of anything, but Nate flew out of her mind.
“WHAT’S GOING ON?” Nate asked Jake and Mason the next day as they combed the bordering backwoods closest to Caleb’s land.
“Some of our enforcers have reported an influx of out of town humans in the area.” Mason’s wolf pawed at the ground, sniffing at the wet mud, looking for any strange scents.
Jake sniffed here and there. “What kind of influx? Are we talking a handful or like hundreds?”
“Shaari said she’d seen at least two men asking strange questions about our pack.”
The enforcer worked for Caleb. She was one of the few female wolves that had extra powers. Daughter to a witch and a shifter, she was one of their best fighters. And still young enough that Nate and his brothers worried about her being out there, fighting rogues. She was almost as young as Ellie, but when she spoke, he saw the knowledge in her eyes.
“What kind of questions?” Nate pawed at the ground, digging his claws deep into the earth.
Jake moved toward a set of bushes. “About Aric, Jordan, and where they could be found.”
“Maybe they’ve been hanging out with Emma,” Mason grumbled.
Nate barked a laugh. “You know, if she heard you, you’d be in deep shit.”
“You’re not the one with a woman with a death wish.” Mason groaned. “Every day I catch her doing something. It’s like a full time job to ensure her safety.”
“I thought she could take care of herself?” Jake rubbed his side on a tree.
“Oh, she can. You should see her shoot or fight. It’s hot as hell. But she’s still a human. And keeping her in one piece is really turning into a project.” Mason shook his coat to remove some leaves off.
“Why is it hard?” Nate asked.
“She said she’s got a couple of students that are worried about their older siblings. Apparentl
y they tend to stray into trouble, and she is just making sure they’re okay.”
Nate shifted. He needed to go back to Karla and spend time with her. “What’s wrong with that?”
“She’s coming to my club every night.” Mason growled during his shift. “I had to have someone there, making sure she doesn’t get in. She’s threatened to cut off my balls multiple times.”
“Nice.”
“Yeah, well, as long as she’s not hurt, then I don’t mind what she says. She’s bluffing, anyway.”
Jake laughed and headed for his truck. “Are you willing to risk it?”
Mason frowned. “For her safety? Hell yes!”
“I agree,” Nate said. “And you know you do too, Jake. We’d do anything to ensure all their safety.”
Jake sighed. “Yeah, you’re right.”
“Now, if you guys excuse me, I need to go woo my mate.”
Jake frowned. “Woo? What the hell is this, the seventeenth century?”
“Hey, don’t hate. I’m going to go be romantic and tell her what’s going on with our pack so she feels involved.” He shrugged on his clothes. “Mom says that’s the best way to get her to open up to me. Then I’m going to give her a foot rub and see if I can get her naked.”
“You know she cares about you, right?” Mason asked, giving him that all-knowing older brother look.
He did know, but hearing Mason say it helped the insecurity he’d been feeling lessen. “I know that. But it’s getting her to acknowledge it that seems to be the problem.”
“Good luck with that. I can’t seem to get Emma to acknowledge she’s not Superman.”
Putting the truck in drive, he waved to his brothers. “I think you’re the one that needs luck, Mase. Emma is bossy and dangerous.”
Mason’s eyes crinkled with his smile, the wolf still bright in his gaze. “I know. It’s one of the things I love about her. But you better be careful with Karla. Pushed enough and she’ll let all that stuff she’s been holding inside out. Don’t be there when that happens.”
The fact that Karla internalized worried him. She needed to let things out, or she’d make herself sick. Or worse, she’d blow up one day and say things she might regret.
“About those humans,” Jake brought his attention to him. “I’ll get a couple of our guys on it. See who they are and why they’re interested in our pack.”
Nate put the truck in drive and drove off, ready to hunt down the humans himself.
KARLA SAT ON her new sofa, grading papers when she heard the door. She’d been distracted, thinking about Nate. Even Kel had mentioned how quiet she’d been during their lunch meeting. She couldn’t help it. The night at his bar had been eye-opening. She’d enjoyed talking to him about his business. Loved mixing drinks for the patrons and meetings his customers and employees. But more than that, she loved seeing that side of Nate. And seeing him show her to others as the woman he wanted. It was really nice.
Nate sauntered in with a wide grin and a hand behind his back.
“Hey.” She frowned, watching his face. “Are those cuts?”
There was a hint of vulnerability in his eyes. “It’s not a big deal. We encountered some shifters and had to kick a little tail.”
“Let me see.” She readied to stand, but he shook his head.
“Stay there. I have something to tell you.” His gaze locked with hers.
The way he looked at her, with hesitation urged her to reach out try to comfort him. Tell him it would be okay. “Nate, you look worried. Whatever is on your mind is fine. You can tell me.”
“I want you to be my partner all the way through everything.” He stepped closer. “Not just in the bedroom where you make me lose my mind.” She glanced down. “No, don’t look embarrassed. You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met. Inside and out. I want us to communicate. Tell each other what we want out of this.”
“Okay.”
His hand finally came around, and he held a small potted bamboo plant. “This is for you.”
She watched him place the small plant on her coffee table. It was a little thing, just growing its first leaf.
“This plant is known to bring luck to those who are gifted it. But that’s not why I’m giving it to you.” He sat down next to her and leaned closer. “See that little leaf? That’s us. Our relationship. We can help it grow like this plant if we nurture and care for it.” He enfolded her hand with his. “Together.”
“Nate…I don’t know what to say.” She didn’t. There was just something special about the way he described growing together.
“I don’t want you to feel pressured, love. I want you to want to be here with me. To do whatever we do together. That you are one hundred percent sure you can count on me for anything, and that I will be there no matter what.”
Her throat turned sandpaper dry. She wanted him to feel the same way about her too. “I think you are one of the most amazing men I have ever met.” She pushed doubt to the ground. “I know it won’t be easy to be open all the time since it’s a new thing for me, but I am willing to give us full commitment.”
She smiled. Her entire body felt lighter after saying that. It was as if a giant weight had been lifted off her. Nate and her babies. They were the future and most important parts of her life. No more doubting it.
He rearranged her feet to lay on his lap. “Now that we got that down and out, I want you to be extra careful.”
“Why?” She placed the papers to her side and leaned her head back on the sofa cushion.
“There are some humans that have been asking questions about the pack. I prefer to be safer than sorry.”
She frowned. “But humans are not normally people you guys have to worry about.”
“No, they’re not. But with the way things have been working lately, we need to keep everyone safe.” He started rubbing her bare feet in strong circular motions, fingers digging into the soles and making her bite her tongue to keep from moaning. Damn that felt good. “I’m not taking chances with you or the babies.”
Her body heated slowly. Every deep press of his fingers on her feet felt like she was turning to jelly. Her breath hitched with the roaming fingers. Next he moved up to her calves, rubbing and caressing her swollen skin. She’d had her feet up because they’d been hurting but didn’t realize having him rub them would make such a difference. Her muscles slowly relaxed, and a new wave of need liquefied in her pores.
“Nate…”
He had that glow in his eyes. Along with a tiny side grin she wanted to lick. “Relax, baby. Let me make you feel good.”
Oh, dear God. If he made her feel any better she’d be coming in her pajama pants. But it was her turn to make him feel good. Nate had asked for nothing but to be with her. And she wanted to give him some of the pleasure she’d been given. She leaned forward, sliding between his legs until she was on her knees in front of him.
“Baby, you don’t have to—” He said, eyes glowing brighter as her hands yanked down his zipper to pull him out of his pants.
“I know I don’t have to.” She licked her lips. He groaned. The deep grumble sounded incredibly sensual. The hairs on her arms stood on end. “I want you. Fucking my mouth. Coming down my throat.”
“Fucking hell. I won’t argue with you there.”
He helped her jerk his pants down his legs, his cock springing free. Hot. Heavy. Ready. She curled a hand around him and pumped up and down slowly. Moisture gathered at the top and then slowly crawled down the vein on his underside.
She licked the bead that traveled down to his balls, taking it right back up to the head of his shaft. The glossy head was almost purple with the amount of blood pumping to it. She sucked his cock into her mouth, laving him with her tongue and coating him in her saliva.
“Holy shit!” He groaned. “Baby, yes. That feels fucking great.”
Her grip on him tightened. There was a quick pull back and then a deeper suck down her throat combined with a rougher jerk. He moaned, thrusting his
hips toward her mouth. With her cheeks hollowed tight, she sucked up and down repeatedly. His hands gripped the leather of her sofa. Material ripped. She glanced up, but all she saw was Nate’s gaze locked on her lips. On the “O” they formed and watching his cock slide in and out of her mouth.
“Yeah. Suck me. Just like that.”
She jerked him harder. Sucked him deeper and moved with a quicker pace. With purpose. To see him come. His breathing turned heavy, filling the room with his rumbling and moaning. Oh how she loved it. Listening to him tell her how good she sucked his dick. Tell her to keep going that she had the sexiest tongue ever.
She pulled him out of her mouth and grinned at his awe-struck expression. “Like that?”
“You have a mouth created for worshipping.”
A chuckle burst free. “I’d settle for making this good for you.”
“Good? You’re fucking amazing,” he growled out.
Her grip tight on his cock, she jerked him in her fist and watched pleasure thunder across his face.
“Come on me.” She saw his nostrils flare, eyes stuck on her lips.
“Take off your top,” he ordered. The growl was low, rough, and hot she felt her pussy twitch.
Her hand tore the material over her head, leaving her large breasts bared for him.
“Now slide my cock between your tits.”
She did as he asked, sliding his hot hard shaft in the valley of her breasts.
“Squeeze them tight.”
She did, watching him thrust up and down the tight tunnel she’d created. Instinct told her to drop her face forward and open her mouth to suck on his dick on his way up.
“Fuck yes!”
Tension traveled from his body to hers. His hips jerked harder, faster, until he pulled from the hot cocoon she’d created and jerked above her breasts. Gazes locked tight. Neither willing to look away as he spurted his seed over her chest and breasts.
She lifted her hands to his cock and licked the dripping cum off his semi-hard dick.