Alphas for the Holidays

by Mandy M. Roth

  She didn’t know how she felt about anal sex, but then again she really hadn’t known how she’d felt about oral or regular until he’d shown her. All she knew was that he would never hurt her. And so far he was batting a hundred with everything he’d done to her and asked her to do to him.

  “Don’t tense, baby. Just relax.” The head was still pressed against her, but she felt another movement. In a moment, she felt the slide of some kind of cool liquid over the top of her ass. He removed his cock one more time, and she could tell he was coating himself with whatever he’d poured over her.

  “Easy, easy.” He murmured as he forced the end of his cock against her hole, continuing to press forward until it yielded to him. She gasped as her body parted, the large head holding her open. Another push and she felt the flange enter her. Then her flesh seemed to close around him, and he was the one muttering.

  “Damn, baby, you’re tight.” Another pause that had her flesh burning and then more of the soothing liquid. She had no idea what he was using, but whatever it was seemed to be working great.

  He pressed forward again, and she felt her body give a little more, and he was firmly seated inside. He shifted and placed his hands over hers, entwining their fingers. “Now I want you to push out, can you do that for me, baby?” she heard the breathlessness in his voice and knew this was as titillating and arousing to him as it was to her.

  She was being conquered by her wolf.

  He thrust his hips, and she did what he asked, and he slid into her and kept sliding and sliding until she felt his groin pressed against her butt cheeks. The time for talking was over. He pulled his hips back then pressed forward without saying a word, without giving her time to protest. Again and again, he pistoned in and out of her, until he was fucking her fast and furious.

  He grunted and groaned, and Julie kept her head bowed and her butt out, savoring the feel of being possessed. Then, he was touching her, rubbing her clit as he hunched over the top of her.

  “I want you to come for me, baby. I want you to come for me and squeeze my cock with that ass. Strangle me, baby. Strangle me.”

  He continued to pound in and out of her while his fingers rubbed harder and faster on her clit. She felt the pressure building, amazed at the sensations she was feeling. She whimpered when he thrust two fingers inside her, and she felt him rubbing himself through the thin membrane that separated her pussy from her ass, all the while continuing to rub her clit with his thumb.

  “Hunter!” There was no way to stop the scream of his name as she came. Just as he wanted, the muscles of her ass clenched around him, causing him to howl along with her. Again and again, she convulsed, each time, squeezing him hard.

  “Fuck, baby. Hold on.” She should have expected that hard ring of heat where his cock formed the knot, but she groaned anyway, the pressure almost too much for her to bear. He continued to fuck her even though the strokes were beginning to hurt as he pulled the knotted flesh along the inside of her ass.

  “Stay with me baby, stay with me.” He continued to pet her, continued to fuck her pussy with his fingers even as he continued to slam his cock in and out of her ass with short, almost desperate thrusts. Suddenly, the pleasure mixed with the pain and she was coming yet again. This time, he joined her, slamming hard and releasing his seed deep inside her bowels.

  She was so weak she couldn’t continue to hold herself up. He wrapped an arm around her and lifted her until they were pressed back to front. He stayed inside her, his cum still jetting from the end of his cock. His fingers pulled at her nipples, but she didn’t think she could come anymore. He had rung her dry. She let her head lull to the side, and he pressed kisses along the top of her shoulder. He licked the mock mark he had left in the curve of her neck

  Eventually, he stopped coming. He continued to hold her, stroking her body as they waited for his knot to go down. He held her chin in his hand, holding her head toward him so he could kiss her—long, possessive kisses. His tongue slid in and out, tracing every inch of her mouth, tasting every flavor she had to offer. He continued to kiss and caress her mouth and face as he stroked his other hand up and down her body. Tweaking her nipples or sliding his finger through her wet slit.

  “You are so beautiful,” he whispered, his voice shaking slightly. “Let’s get you cleaned up.” He pulled out slowly, murmuring words of praise when she moaned at the residual pain. With gentle hands, he washed her off. The sensation of being rubbed all over with warm soapy water with his big hands was intensely exquisite. And he took his time, frequently soaping up his hands and paying attention to every inch of her, parting her legs so that over and over he rubbed his hand over her pussy, parting her lips and sliding over the throbbing nub until her body was screaming for satisfaction again.

  She reached down and circled his cock with her hand. Her sexual experiences were severely limited, and she had certainly never been aroused to the levels of such utter abandonment that she had experienced tonight. What had no doubt started out as a punishment for her perceived bad behavior had turned into an experience she would never forget. Yes, he had dominated her, but he hadn’t hurt her. He’d been just as aroused, just as lost in the moment as she had been.

  “Again, please,” she asked with a thread of want in her voice as he grew in her hand.

  He laughed and the sound made her tingle all over. If a horny wolf could laugh, it would have sounded like Hunter. Wickedly sexy.

  “Anything you want, baby, I’m a wolf. I can go all night and then some. But I don’t think you’re ready for that yet.”

  Before she could protest, he was turning off the shower and squeezing the water from her hair and ushering her out of the tub. Grabbing a bath towel, he patted her dry, lingering on her breasts and between her legs. Next, he placed a towel on the toilet and urged her to take a seat, grabbing the hair dryer hooked to the wall. She closed her eyes as he threaded his fingers through her hair as he dried her hair completely. Because it was so thick, she never had the patience.

  She tried to keep her gaze off the cock that was almost at eye level. It was still thick from her touch. From the corner of her eye, she saw the tanned columns of his legs, covered in a thin layer of tiny black hairs. Shouldn’t wolf shifters have more hair on their bodies? His chest also contained only a light mat of black hair. Just enough to make it interesting. She couldn’t help but flip her eyes upward, taking in his tall body. What did they say? He was a long, cool drink of water. That thought had her eyes falling downward again, to his cock. She’d never gone down on a guy, so her knowledge of doing so came from the novels she’d read and her dirty imagination. If she just moved her head, she could lick him. Press her tongue against his slit.

  “Stop it,” he growled.

  She started. “Stop what?”

  “Thinking of licking me.”

  As she watched, his member started to grow, and he was sporting a full-blown hard on once again.

  He turned off the hair dryer and ran his fingers through her hair one last time, separating the strands as best he could. His fingers rubbed her scalp, and she closed her eyes and relaxed into his touch. How easy would it be to succumb to the fatigue riding her? Yesterday and today had been almost magical. A time separated from the reality of the real world. A world where handsome shifters did not fuck the fat girl.

  Doubt and hurt tried to rise inside her once again, but she pushed the feelings away. Hunter had wanted her. She knew that. He had not promised her anything. She knew that, too. She was tired of letting the self-doubts and insecurities she’d carried around inside of her all of her life about her looks and her body ruin these memories for her. Even if she’d been model thin, she knew Hunter would still walk away.

  He bent down and lifted her into his arms. He carried her to the big bed and held her to his chest with one arm as he swept back the covers with the other. Placing her in the center, he climbed in beside her and turned off the light before pulling her close.

  “Sleep, baby.” She ba
rely heard his words as she drifted off, but she did feel the soft kiss he placed on the crown of her head. That tender gesture, more than anything, let her know she’d done the right thing in being rescued by this wolf.

  Chapter 12

  “You aren’t going anywhere. Not until we talk this over.”

  Hunter’s fingers dug roughly into the flesh of Julie’s arm, keeping her from moving away. The hard set of his features indicated the tight hold he had on his temper and emotions. The flash of amber could still play havoc with her senses. She didn’t even have to bet the last dime in the bottom of her purse to know he was angry this time.

  “There isn’t anything to talk about,” she stated, refusing to flinch under his painful grip. She had woken up, determined to be strong this morning, face her actions of the previous days with all the strength and maturity that she could muster. She’d spent the last twenty minutes under the shower, reliving the memories that flowed inside her as easily as the water that ran down her naked flesh.

  What had she done? Slept with a wolf. Not once, not twice, but more times than she had really counted.

  A wolf who was a marine. A wolf that she’d never see again once he dropped her off at the nearest car rental.

  A wolf that did not want a mate. His words of the day before gave her the courage to stiffen her spine and stay strong. She couldn’t allow his feelings of protectiveness, of doing the right thing, force him into a situation he didn’t want.

  “You damn well know there is.”

  “Nothing happened. We had sex. You haven’t marked me so you can walk away with a clear conscience. We’re both normal, healthy beings who happened to be members of the opposite sex. We were caught up in the moment.”

  He stared down at her, and she schooled her expression not to reveal anything she was feeling. Panic. Despair. Love.

  “Fine. Have it your way.” He dropped his hands and moved away, putting on his coat. “The snow plows are out. I heard them earlier. We should be able to leave in about a half hour. I’m going to shovel the Hummer free.”

  Some sort of acknowledgment seemed necessary. “All right. I’ll get our stuff together.” Not that they had much. He certainly didn’t. He traveled light. No encumbrances.

  Just like he apparently wanted his life.

  The routine of folding her things and repacking her suitcase restored some of her equilibrium. Going their separate ways was the best thing to do. He certainly didn’t need a woman to interfere with his life. And she didn’t need a man to make her complete. It was just as she had told him. They’d been two consenting adults who had enjoyed a fun, sex-filled interlude in less than ideal conditions.

  It would be for the best, she told herself again as she bunched the covers in the middle of the bed, indicating they would need to be washed. Resisting the urge to hold the pillow he had slept on to her nose, she sat down on the end of the bed, her suitcase at her feet, and a hand on his duffle bag by her side.

  Was it only yesterday that Hunter had thoughtfully provided breakfast? Walking in the snow to get her a hot meal of scrambled eggs and toast? Was it only last night that he’d punished her in the shower, freeing her to discover new depths to her sexuality?

  She loved a wolf shifter. Foolishly, impractically, futilely, she loved him.

  A shifter who was married to his career.

  When she felt tears gather in her eyes, she admonished herself. The fault was hers. She should not have let his virile masculinity swamp her common sense. He was a wolf. He mated for life.

  And she wasn’t his mate.

  The door opened, and Hunter stomped back inside. “Are you ready?” His voice held no emotion, and she decided to take her cue from him. Forget. He stood silently as she put on her coat, his hands thrust deep in his own jacket, a withdrawn expression in his eyes.

  It was amazing how well she’d come to know the meaning of each of his expressions in such a short period of time.

  He ushered her toward the Hummer, keeping a firm hand on her elbow as they traversed the sidewalk and parking lot. The motor was still running, and the warm interior felt good. It might not be snowing anymore, but it was still cold. As soon as she settled into the passenger seat, she felt the heat against her bottom

  He’d warmed the car and turned on the heated seats for her.

  His thoughtfulness made her want to cry again.

  “So where am I taking you?”

  So much for his softer side. He apparently couldn’t wait to get rid of her. “There’s a rental agency about forty miles up the interstate, according to the desk clerk.”

  Hunter put the vehicle in reverse and made his way out of the parking lot. Once on the highway, Julie could tell the snowplows had done their job as best they could. Only one lane looked as if it had been plowed more than once. The passing lane was still a snow packed nightmare.

  It took an hour and a half to reach the car rental agency and by then Julie was already rethinking her plans. She had no desire to drive in these kinds of conditions. The roads were worse than they appeared to be. There were patches of thickly packed snow that made driving almost as treacherous as driving on ice. More than one driver had skidded in front of them, barely straightening in time to avoid a collision. Hunter kept the Hummer at a slow, even speed.

  As he drove, she watched his hawk-like profile. She almost regretted her decision to leave. Maybe she could have convinced him that mating her wouldn’t have been so bad. He pulled up in front of the rental agency at the end of a small strip mall just off the highway. Almost all the cars in the gated lot were still covered with snow. She really hoped cleaning hers off was part of the service.

  “Well, I guess this is it.” She bent down and grabbed her purse. Her suitcase was in the back.

  He cut the engine and removed his seatbelt before turning toward her. Reaching out he undid hers. For one moment, she’d thought he was going to touch her. Perhaps pull her toward him for a goodbye kiss? Maybe convince her she’d overreacted and he did want to see her again?

  A girl could hope.

  She opened the door and was about to hop down—how did short, curvy girls do this she wondered. Before she could swing her legs around, he touched her arm. “Wait.”

  Her heart pounded for a moment, then realized he was simply going to help her down. She should be grateful since the pavement leading to the front entrance of the store hadn’t been cleared of any snow.

  She shouldn’t have been surprised when he reached out and easily swung her into his arms. Instinctively, she kept hold of her purse as she wrapped her arms around his neck. Just when Julie thought she’d gained control over her wayward emotions—and heart—she was cradled once again against that rock-hard chest. His long strides covered the short distance from the curb to the building’s entrance.

  “I’m too heavy for you to be carrying me around,” she stated matter-of-factly, but they had already reached the door, and Hunter was setting her down at the same time that he swung open the glass door.

  A tiny bell tinkled as they entered.

  “You’re not heavy. I told you that,” he stated without any emotion as he turned his blank gaze to her, his eyes unreadable.

  The space behind the counter was empty. Julie leaned over trying to see into the back. “Hello? Is anyone here?”

  She heard a slight noise and after another minute a pimply faced teenager who didn’t even look old enough to drive came into view. “Hi there. What can I do for you?”

  Well, at least he was polite and friendly. She returned his smile with one of her own. “I need to rent a car.”

  Hunter stepped forward. “No, she needs to rent a four-wheel drive.”

  When she looked up at him, he said, “The road conditions are shit. You need a four-wheel drive.”

  “I’m just going—”

  He cut her off. “You need a dependable vehicle. Not one like that tin coffin you were driving.”

  “I’ll have you know that car is very dependable.” Her
voice held a touch of ice at his reference to the car they had abandoned on the side of the highway, and that was even now, no doubt, being towed away.

  “Whoa, whoa, folks. It really doesn’t matter, I don’t have any four-wheel drives.”

  Julie felt some sort of vindication when the teen said that. Smaller, compact cars were dependable vehicles. “Fine, I’ll take whatever you have.” She bent her head to rummage through her purse for her wallet and credit card. She hated putting more on it, but hopefully her new salary would kick in soon, and she’d be able to pay it off in a month or two. Thankfully, her friend hadn’t made her pay for the bridesmaid’s dress. But she still had to pay Hunter for half of the hotel room.

  She pulled her credit card from her wallet and slid it across the counter.

  “Sorry, lady. I should have said I don’t have any vehicles for rent.”

  “What? There’s a lot full of cars out there.”

  “Not ours. They belong to the used car place next door.”

  “You have got to be kidding me.” Now, what was she going to do? She’d gotten a text that the wedding was back on for tomorrow. She didn’t even want to begin to deal with the tow bill and getting her car out of some city compound lot. There was no way she was going to ask Mr. Sunshine standing beside her to take her the next fifty miles or so to her friend’s house. She needed to end their association fast—like ripping off a band-aid. Minimum pain, maximum healing.

  “Thank you for your time.” Hunter’s deep voice sounded beside her and before she could protest—again—he had swept her up in his arms and was carrying her out the door to the Hummer.

  “Now listen here—”