by Cara Wylde
The terrace was amazing! Claudia took her time to admire the green roof around them, the small flower beds, and the cityscape. She couldn’t believe what they called “the terrace” was, in fact, more of a garden, an oasis of fresh, green grass, pansies and jasmine way above the noise of the streets. She could sunbath here if she wanted. Or, if the weather ever allowed it. What she loved most was that it was clear the whole roof could be covered if needed, which was amazing given that it rained so often. Later, after the two servant girls brought the second course, Ethan was more than willing to answer her questions and explain how the system worked. On rainy nights, a second roof, round and made of glass, could be activated. It made the terrace look like a giant snow globe.
“Fantastic!” Claudia said and clapped her hands. She turned to Karl. “It’s the first time I see something like this. I mean… I might have seen it movies, but I never thought…” She was too excited to know how to finish her sentence.
Karl smiled and nodded. “I’m glad you like it.”
That was an understatement, but Claudia was satisfied he had said as much. Since they had sat down to eat, Karl had barely spoken a word. He had mostly grunted and nodded.
The teriyaki chicken was insanely good, and for a couple of minutes they all enjoyed it in silence. Even Matt was too busy stuffing his mouth to make jokes. No, he had no qualms about being a bit messy when eating. Claudia liked watching him because he reminded her of a child who enjoyed everything fully and unapologetically. At some point, Karl threw her a suspicious glance, and Claudia cursed herself for staring at Matt like an idiot. The only one who hadn’t noticed was, of course, Matt. She tried to ignore him afterwards, but it was no use. Not when the Beta wanted to tell her about his most incredible achievement, the thing for which all shifters envied and respected him.
“I have accomplished something no man, human or shifter, can say he’s ever done. I mean… no man, human or shifter, of whom I know of. Nevertheless.”
Claudia was listening to him, a large smile on her lips. There was no way she could guess what he would say, but seeing how Karl, Ethan, and Terry had started rolling their eyes and grinning mockingly, she was sure it had to be something silly.
Matt leaned forward and fixed her with his green gaze: “I have shagged women from all the six species known on this planet. Cute human girls, bitchy she-wolves, sassy vixens, curvy she-bears, crazy eagles, even proud, self-important dragon girls. Well… it was just one dragon girl, but I promise you she won’t be the last.”
“Oh, shut up!” said Terry. “You never shagged a dragon.”
“I did!” He waved him off. “Ugh! What do you know? Don’t listen to him, Claudia. My dragon lady had long, blonde hair and endless golden eyes.”
“Endless golden eyes…” laughed Ethan. “That’s it. You’re drunk.”
Claudia laughed with him. “Shifters never get drunk. I believe him.”
Matt clapped and leaned back in his chair, completely satisfied. “See? Finally, someone who knows I’m telling the truth. Someone who understands. Of course she understands what you can’t wrap your tiny minds around. She’s a woman! She feels my charm.” He emphasized the word “feels” and made Claudia laugh harder.
Karl cleared his throat and patted his lips with a napkin, indicating he was done with the second course. He didn’t have to say anything to make Claudia feel slightly uncomfortable. She stopped laughing, took a sip of wine, and finished her chicken. Matt, however, was unfazed. All through dessert, he gave them all the juicy details about his affairs, making sure to mention that, in his experience, female fox-shifters were the best in bed. Female bear-shifters were too cuddly, and humans were too fragile. Oh, and he’d never shag a female eagle again because they tended to be too clingy and expect a phone call the next day. They all laughed at his shenanigans, except Karl. Claudia tried to turn her attention to him every once in a while, but it was difficult when he was so silent and Matt kept stealing the scene. It was as if the Alpha wolf had something on his mind. Better yet: something weighing on his soul.
***
After dinner, they had one last glass of wine, then Matt, Ethan and Terry bid them “goodnight” and retreated to their homes. Matt lived on the ground floor, and the two Deltas across the street. Claudia was feeling a bit lightheaded, but content. Everything had gone much better than she had expected, and she liked the three Dark Wolves she had met. Now, she could only hope the rest of Karl’s pack would welcome her just as warmly.
“So…” she started. “What now?”
She was standing near the edge of the roof, her glass on the sill, looking at the city lights. Karl was by the door, having exchanged a couple of words with Matt before he left. She knew he had heard her even if she had merely whispered.
Karl shoved his hands deep into his pockets and let his eyes travel up and down her turned back. She looked so small and frail in her pale pink dress. Should they…? Could he…? Maybe it was too early. She had just gotten there.
“I have to call my brother. I promised I’d let him know we got here safe, but I didn’t get the chance. You can go to bed if you’re tired.”
Claudia sighed. It didn’t sound like an innocent suggestion, but more like “Please go to your bedroom and leave me alone.” She turned and smiled at him.
“I do feel tired, actually. It’s been a long day.” She took her glass back to the table and paused for just a moment before leaving the terrace. “I’ll wait for you.”
“Oh, you don’t need to… I might be late…”
But she had already gone past him. Karl took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. He fished his phone out of his pocket and made the call, trying not to listen to Claudia’s soft steps down the stairs, then in her bedroom. If he really tried, he could hear the thin dress caressing her dark skin as it hit the floor and pooled around her delicate ankles.
Claudia stripped down to her lace bra and panties, both of an even paler pink, then wondered if she should wait for Karl like that, or find some sort of pajamas. What she had brought with her wasn’t exactly sexy, but she did find a cute tank top that went pretty well with her lingerie. She applied a bit of gloss on her lips, studied herself in the mirror and nodded in satisfaction, then proceeded to unpack her things and spread them around the room. She moved quickly and efficiently, not wanting Karl to find her folding clothes, then grabbed her smartphone and sneaked into bed.
Half an hour went by, then an hour. She was getting tired of playing Candy Crush.
“Boy, he wasn’t kidding when he said he might be late,” she whispered to herself. “What’s he talking about with Max? Are they planning to overthrow the Council this very night?”
She sighed and played some more. Another half an hour later she had to put her phone down and accept defeat. Karl wasn’t coming. She glanced around the room and understood why it looked so impersonal. Karl had never slept there, and by the looks of it, he had no intention of changing that tonight. The bedroom had been especially prepared for her.
“I don’t… Whatever…”
She turned off the light and made herself comfortable. The pillows were insanely soft, and she was so tired that she could sleep for a week. It would have been even nicer if Karl had come to her, kissed her and held her in his arms. She curled up as best as she could, hugging her knees with her arms. Once again, she was sleeping alone in a room. She had grown tired of it at Alma Venus, and it was ridiculous that the situation didn’t change now that she was an Alpha’s bride. An Alpha who didn’t want her… An Alpha who had barely spoken at all during dinner, letting his wolves entertain her. Claudia sobbed, then chastised herself for being so weak and needy and refused to let the tears fall. It was just the first night. Maybe Karl hadn’t come because he wanted to wait and get to know her better. Maybe he respected her too much to claim her when the only thing he knew about her were her name and age. He would have known more if he had consulted the House Ursi catalog, as all shifters did when they wanted to buy a b
ride, but nothing about Claudia’s transaction had been done by the book.
Soon, she was falling asleep. The nights here weren’t as silent and peaceful as at Alma Venus, which was at the edge of the small town of Myrtle Valley and at the foot of the mountains, but she would get used to the noises coming from outside. She was slipping into unconsciousness when she thought she heard the door creek, then the floor. She stirred, half asleep, half awake, but couldn’t find the energy to sit up and see who was making the strange sounds. Her eyes snapped open, however, when she felt the edge of the mattress sink under someone’s weight.
“Karl?”
A deep breath came from her right. Claudia turned and saw Karl just sitting there, looking at her.
“You came…”
She smiled and reached out to him, but her smile fell when he caught her wrist right before her fingers touched his arm.
“You’re so beautiful,” he whispered.
“Err… thanks?”
He paid her no mind. It was as if he didn’t hear her, as if he was oblivious to her body language. Still holding her wrist captive, he leaned over her body until his face was so close to hers that she could smell the wine on his breath. Claudia bit the inside of her lip and stared into his eyes. She couldn’t wait to see what he would do, what would happen next. He came, and it meant he liked her, wanted her even. The look in his eyes told her as much.
Karl studied her soft, frizzy hair, the perfect arch of her eyebrows, her high cheekbones, and the delicious curve of her full lips, then he closed his eyes and pressed his lips to hers. He was surprised when she was the one who parted her lips first, allowing him entrance. Their tongues met, and Claudia moaned, her whole body trembling with need. He couldn’t believe how little it took to make her heart beat faster and her pussy release sweet juices he could easily smell. So far, she had given him the impression that she was too shy and innocent to think about him that way, but now her body was telling him there was a lot of passion hidden underneath her calm attitude.
Claudia tried to free her wrist, but Karl only squeezed it harder. Having no other choice, she reached out her other hand to touch him. She was dying to run her fingers up and down his strong chest and chiseled abs, to tangle them into his short hair and press his face harder against hers. Again, Karl’s reflexes were fast and unforgiving. He broke the kiss and caught her wrist with his other hand, then placed both her hands above her head and pinned them there with his right hand, so his left one would be free to touch her lips and cup her jaw.
“What… what are you doing?” Claudia let out an uneasy laugh.
“It’s too soon.”
There was a hint of sadness in his voice, and it unsettled her. This man truly was a mystery.
“No. No, it’s not. I’m your bride now. It’s okay to do this. We should do it…”
His palm followed the length of her neck and went lower to squeeze her breast. She arched her back slightly, her nipples hardening in anticipation of what was to come, of what she hoped would come.
“You’re so frail and innocent…”
“What are you talking about?”
She would have said more, but that was the moment when he decided to pinch her nipple. She moaned and shifted under him, trying to get herself in a position that would allow her to at least wrap her legs around his waist. She tried to wiggle her wrists free, but there was no use.
“Karl… please, let me touch you.”
“No.”
His voice was soft this time, and it sent a chill down her spine.
“Why not? It’s not too soon, I promise. I want this, and I know you want it too.”
He shook his head. “You don’t understand…”
“What? Just tell me. Don’t make the decision for me.”
She had already figured out it had something to do with him not wanting to be touched. Although her fingers were itching to explore his taut body, she knew she could accept that and wait for the moment when he would allow her.
He sighed and looked her straight in the eyes. “All right, but I don’t think you’ll like it.”
She grinned, trying to show him she was relaxed and ready for anything. “Try me.”
“I don’t like being touched. Don’t ask me why, it’s just something I don’t do.”
“Okay…”
“I don’t like being seen either.” A pause. When she didn’t say anything, he continued. “There’s nothing that I want more right now than to cover your eyes, tie your wrists to the headboard, and make love to you. But… will you accept my terms?”
Claudia swallowed heavily. What sort of crazy issues did Karl Blackmane actually have? And she had been thinking she needed a shrink because of some mild depression… She thought for a second, then decided she had to give it a try. How bad could it be? He seemed gentle enough…
“I accept.”
Karl looked at her long and hard until she felt the need to repeat herself: “I do, I accept your terms.”
He let go of her wrists only to reach into his pocket and retrieve a silk scarf.
“So, he came prepared,” she thought.
Claudia let him tie the scarf around her wrists and secure them to the headboard. It felt weird to be spread on the bed like that, arms above her head, legs slightly parted. She felt exposed. Deliciously exposed. He climbed on top of her, still fully clothed, and procured another scarf from his pocket. She lifted her head a bit to help him tie it around her eyes, then let herself fall back onto the pillows. She kept quiet and listened to his every move, now needing all her other senses to figure out what Karl was doing, where he would touch her next. The anticipation was frustrating, but at the same time enticing. She certainly hadn’t imagined her first time would be like this: tied up, blindfolded, at the mercy of an Alpha werewolf.
Karl removed his shirt, then his trousers and underwear. Now that she couldn’t see him, he felt free and confident. The scars on his chest, thighs, and back didn’t bother him anymore. He could very well pretend they weren’t there. With no one to point them out, trace them and ask questions, he could imagine he was a different man, a man who could allow himself to enjoy the dark, soft body currently lying underneath his weight. He took his time to caress Claudia’s breasts, run his hands down her sides, and lift her tank top to reveal the pale pink bra. Her breasts looked round and inviting under the lace. He rolled the top above her breasts, then hooked his fingers in the cups of her bra and pulled them down slowly, tucking them under the two perky mounds. Trapped between the two pieces of material, they looked perfect. He leaned down and took a nipple between his lips and sucked on it hard, while rolling the other one between his fingers.
“Oh!” she gasped and arched her back, offering him better access.
She hadn’t expected it to feel so good. Her panties were soaked, and her untouched pussy was throbbing with desire. She soon discovered that being tied up and blindfolded enhanced every single sensation tenfold. She moaned and squirmed under him. When Karl moved to the other nipple and bit down on it, it was already too much for her to bear.
“Oh, please…”
And she certainly hadn’t expected to start begging so easily. She didn’t care, though. The sooner he got between her legs, the better. She needed his fingers on her clit, his cock inside her… She couldn’t be happier when he moved away from her nipples and placed soft kissed down her abdomen. He bit her when he reached the hem of her panties, and Claudia yelped, then chuckled. He bit her again, harder, and in response she attempted to wrap her legs around him. She immediately felt his strong arms pin her down. So that was what Karl Blackmane liked… a completely submissive bride. Well, she could play the part.
Karl rolled her panties down her legs, then positioned himself comfortably between her thighs. His breath hitched when the strong scent of her wetness hit him full force. He licked his lips and told himself he had to hold it together, take things slowly. Even though she was willing, this was her first time and he had to make it go
od for her. He spread her legs wider, and leaned down to kiss her mound. She shivered, and he smiled. He took a deep breath to better savor the smell of her arousal, then parted her folds with the tip of his tongue, finding her clit, circling it a couple of times, then moving down to dip his tongue inside her entrance as much as it went.
“Oh my… Oh! Don’t stop…”
Claudia was lying still now, afraid that he might stop if she made a sudden move. She didn’t want this to end, not now when she needed release. She needed it more than ever, and his tongue felt better than her own fingers had felt. He listened to her and moved his tongue in and out of her pussy, pushing against the muscles, teasing them into relaxation, preparing them for something bigger and thicker. After a long minute, he moved back up to her hard nub and started drawing quick circles around it while his finger found her entrance and pushed in slowly, carefully. It was too much. Claudia’s moans became louder, and soon it was impossible for her to lie still. Her whole body was shivering, her back arched, and her toes curled in the anticipation of her first orgasm. Well… the first orgasm given to her by a man.
“Oh yes! Right there…”
She came with a strangled cry, her legs wrapping around Karl’s shoulders. He was too busy licking her to completion to be bothered by it, but as soon as she came down from her height, he gently placed her legs back on the bed and climbed on top of her. He kissed her hard, letting her taste her own juices on his tongue. While she was distracted and breathless, he entered her slowly, guiding his cock inside her pussy with endless care. The last thing he wanted was to hurt her.
Claudia felt the burn between her legs and tried to relax. His cock was probably only half way in, but he was so big that the pain threatened to become unbearable if he didn’t give her some time to adjust. She broke the kiss and whispered against his lips: “Wait… wait… just a second. Hurts…”
Karl froze. He didn’t know if he should stay like that until she gave him the go, or pull out and simply leave her alone. That was why he had never wanted a human bride. They were too fragile and easy to break.