And when she came, he rode the wave of her climax all the way to the end, lapping up her pleasure.
His cock, hard as granite with anticipation, ached so much he felt he might explode if he waited one more moment to take her. Brady stood and placed the head of him at her entrance.
Rachel looked up a mix of dreamy contentment and excitement for more. He held himself in his hands, circling the tip of his engorged head against her wet opening.
She lifted herself up off the desk, wrapping her arms again around the base of his neck and nudged her hips forward.
They fit together like pieces of a puzzle. He nudged forward, seating himself inside her heat, and she wrapped those powerful thighs around his waist, sealing their connection.
She met his eyes as he rocked forward, pushing deeper into her. Powerful and incredibly sexy, she kept those baby blues on his, connecting with him beyond their physical bodies as he drove into her.
He’d meant to take things slow. But the delicious heat of her body and the way her thighs tightened in rhythm with his hips made him increase his pace with every thrust. As if he could not get deep enough, he pushed harder and faster, grinding her into the desk. Each thrust took him that much closer to the edge.
Slamming his hands down on the desk for support, he panted. She cried out and her body began to contract around him, that delicious tightening friction driving him right over the edge. He grunted like the animal he was through the pleasure, gritting his teeth as he pumped his last few times.
EIGHTEEN
Had there been a bed, Brady would have gladly lain with her all night, but the desk provided no comfort. He slipped away from Rachel’s body, seating himself on a nearby chair. “How’s your stress level now?” he joked.
“Dialed back to about a five.” She winked at him as she adjusted, perching herself on the corner of the desk.
If she only knew how sexy she looked at that moment. If only he had had a camera to capture her raw beauty. She was the picture of confidence and feminine beauty. If only there were more time. He’d only intended their time out from the commotion in the lobby to be a few moments. Well beyond that now duty called. Brady blew out a long breath “Hard to reach zero these days. Especially now that your old pack is on the warpath.”
Her smile dissolved. “You really know how to ruin a perfect moment, don’t you?”
“I wasn’t trying to be a dick. It’s my job to protect the pack, and like it or not, a fight is coming.”
“Is this the face that launched a thousand ships?” Rachel rolled her eyes.
“And now we’re quoting Shakespeare. It’s time for me to go kill something.”
“Marlow, not Shakespeare, you ass.” She hopped down and retrieved her clothes. “And I thought it was poignant. You’ve essentially accused me of being Helen of Troy.”
“So does that make me Paris? Or am I some other suitor?” Brady teased.
“Are you implying something?” Rachel’s tone soured.
“No, I was just settling into the role.” He smirked at her. “Paris, if I recall was not very brave. And since you now have launched a thousand ships― or wolves― we’ll have to prepare for battle.”
“So you do have some brains in that thick head of yours,” Rachel teased.
“It is pretty thick, or so I have been told.” Brady waved a hand south and gave her a little wink.
“Can’t argue there.” Rachel licked her lips, and that little gesture had him at attention and ready for another round. “But we don’t have time for that just yet.”
“Later,” Brady mumbled. Innuendo aside, the very real fact that they were preparing for a potential attack needed to remain at the forefront of his mind.
“And you’re right, Paris was not the bravest of warriors, though he did live longer than Achilles and Hector.”
“Not by much. And you wouldn’t catch me being such a coward. I fight tooth and claw. He had a long range weapon.”
“A man who knows his mythology. Kind of sexy.” Rachel leaned close and pecked him on the lip, finishing with a quick nibble.
“Kind of?” Brady stood and began to redress himself.
“Just a little.”
“There’s nothing little about me.” Brady slipped his legs into his pants, making a show of pulling them up and fastening the button.
“I guess I can’t argue there. Especially now that I know there’s a huge brain in that head of yours too.”
“Perk of being a second son. Lots of schooling in more than just combat. I have to be prepared to take over should the Alpha be incapable.” Brady pulled his shirt up over his head and gave a quick glance to his watch to check the time. “Speaking of which, Aiden will be looking for me. We’re due to appear at the final celebration.”
“And what am I to do?”
“Stay with me. I’ll be your escort. And if I have to leave, you’ll remain with Fallon.”
“This whole babysitting thing is getting annoying,” Rachel sighed. “I can defend myself.”
Brady knew better than to bring up the way he’d found her in the woods, choosing instead to continue as if she had not said that last part. “I could leave you with Mark and Louis. Assuming they are still alive.”
“Those two assholes.” Rachel mumbled angrily, as she finished the last button on her blouse. “You know they’re spies, right?”
“The thought had crossed my mind.” Brady nodded. “Their story is far too convenient. I don’t trust them. But I do know something of Charles. He’s not exactly an Alpha who plays by the rules. For that fact alone, I have to give those guys a little leeway. They might have their uses. Even if they are spying.”
“So you’re not going to kill them?”
“No,” Brady responded quickly. “Not yet at least.”
“If you ask me, that’s a bad idea.”
“I didn’t.” He opened the door and held it for her.
“Rude!”
“I’ve been called worse for much less. Contrary to popular belief, I don’t like to kill arbitrarily.”
“They were warned not to come back. They came back. They broke your law.”
“I’m not the Alpha here,” he reminded her. “It’s not my law to make, only the Alpha’s law to uphold. If Aiden orders it, I’ll do what is commanded.”
“But you killed Craig.”
“On confirmation that he had ordered your death. I was operating within the general scope of our Alpha’s law,” Brady said.
“Sounds like cherry-picking to me,” Rachel replied.
“Call it what you will,” Brady sighed.
“Where are we headed?”
“Outside to the bonfire. Everyone should have gathered by now. It will be time for the gift exchange soon.”
“Oh, but I don’t have anything to give.”
“I already got mine.” Brady nuzzled her neck, stealing one last taste of her delicious skin before nudging her on.
NINETEEN
Outside, the packs had all gathered among the twinkling Christmas lights. The bonfire blazed higher than it had the previous days, and despite the upset of earlier events, the mood remained light.
Aiden and Fallon came out to address the assembled crowd, each holding a gift in hand – small boxes wrapped with shiny blue paper and topped with silvery bows that glowed under the moonlight.
Behind them, piled high on a table, sat similar packages, each wrapped and ready to be distributed.
“Our time has nearly ended, but let us not forget the reason we have all come together to celebrate. All of us, though we belong to different packs, share the same blood. That makes us family.”
Aiden’s well-chosen words were met with applause from the surrounding wolves. He smiled and waited for the noise to die down before speaking again.
“And since you are my family, and it is the holiday gift-giving season, I would like you all to have something to remember your time spent here with us.”
The crowd applauded Aiden agai
n, and as they clapped, Fallon stepped forward and gave her box to the nearest wolf.
Aiden stepped forward and passed his gift out next.
Stephen stepped up to the table and began to pick up boxes and hand them to Fallon and Aiden in turn as they continued the chain, passing out all of the presents until no more remained on the table.
Once everyone in attendance had their boxes, Aiden signaled for them to be opened.
Rachel held a box in her hand but did not open it with the rest of the crowd. “I really don’t deserve to participate in this.”
“You’re with us now. Go on and open it,” Brady encouraged her.
She pulled the bow, gently untying it, and lifted the lid. Inside lay a small silver wolf charm engraved with Olde Town Pack and the date. “It’s so pretty.”
Aiden addressed the assembled crowd again. “We are all part of the Olde Town. And each and every one of you is welcome here anytime you wish. Consider this nature preserve and all its amenities an extension of your home.” Applause and cheers cut Aiden off before he could finish his speech. He waited for the noise to die down, smiling at his assembled pack, before finishing. “Now, as this is our final night together, please enjoy yourselves.”
“I plan to,” Brady shouted up loudly to his brother.
“Except you. No one give this wolf anything to drink,” Aiden replied with a chuckle.
The crowd joined his laughter.
Aiden stepped down holding Fallon’s hand and together they walked toward Brady. The jovial smile faded as they approached Brady and Rachel.
Down to business as always. “Walk with us,” Brady said to Rachel. He joined his brother, walking a few steps behind as they headed back toward the compound.
“What of the trespassers?” Brady asked.
“We’ll give them the benefit of the doubt for now, and see what they do,” Aiden replied.
“Short leash, then?”
“Absolutely,” Aiden agreed. “Can you handle being around them?” he asked Rachel.
She grumbled to herself, but when her answer came, it was calm. “I will do what you need me to do.”
“I understand your position,” Aiden said reassuringly. “But as precarious as our position is at this moment, we could make use of them. Even if they’re not on the level.”
“I understand. As an outsider, I have not yet been initiated into your family. But I want you to know I respect you as my Alpha.”
Her words seemed to have struck a chord with Aiden. He stopped dead in his tracks and turned around to face her. “We would be happy to welcome you into our pack, and even without the formality, I already consider you one of us.” He leaned in close, whispering in her ear, “And only a woman of such rare substance could keep a wolf like my brother tied down.”
“You do realize I can hear you, right, brother?” Brady groaned.
Rachel gave Aiden a smile while coyly glancing over to Brady. “I learned knot tying in Girl Scouts.”
“She’s definitely a keeper.” Fallon snorted and shot Brady a glare, mouthing the words, Don’t screw this up.
Both of them seemed to want him to settle down, but it went against everything in Brady’s nature. Still, he had to admit, if only to himself, that Rachel was a pretty rare find, and he was lucky to have the time he did with her. “Okay. Before you two start planning our mating ceremony, let’s get through this evening without anyone dying.” Brady hoped to steer the conversation back on point, but Fallon took hold of Rachel and pulled her closer, whispering and giggling.
Aiden at least appeared to have his head back in the game. “Have you set up additional patrols?”
“Yes, and I was going to excuse myself from the party early to join in and take my shift,” Brady replied.
“I’d rather you not. I’d really like to have you here as a visible presence to assure our guest all is well.”
“I’m here now. And I can make the rounds for an hour or so, but my guys are a little annoyed about the whole Rachel situation. I need to make sure they don’t feel I’m ignoring duty for a girl.”
“You’re their leader,” Aiden reminded him.
“And you know as well as I that a true leader runs with the pack, rather than ordering from the back.”
“Father would be proud of you. He always said you were born for this job.”
It hurt to remember Connor Whelan. Their father should have been Alpha for so many more years, but his life had been cut short too soon. And neither Brady nor Aiden had been truly ready for the responsibility of taking on the pack. They’d done the best they could, with Aiden taking the brunt of the responsibility as Alpha. They kept order and maintained traditions. But the hole their father left in the pack and in their hearts could never truly be filled.
Brady did his best to honor his father’s memory, and hearing his brother’s praise filled him with pride. “Thanks. You too. We make a good team.”
Aiden patted his brother on the back. “Go, then. Be social for an hour and then take your shift on patrol.”
“I’ll bring Rachel with me,” Brady said.
“Is that wise?”
“She’ll be safe running with me. And if there is an issue, she can run back, sounding an alert while I hold them off.”
Aiden’s mouth formed a hard line. He clearly didn’t agree with the plan, but he held his tongue.
“I think if any attack is coming, it will happen after our people have cleared away. They’d be stupid to hit us while we have all the packs assembled.”
“Famous last words, brother,” Aiden sighed.
“Hey, don’t go invoking Murphy’s Law now. Let’s be positive.”
“Okay. You do what you have to do.” Aiden held out his hand for Brady to shake. “Meanwhile, let’s get back to the party.”
TWENTY
Stupid. Stupid. Stupid! Brady mentally slapped himself as he powered through the dark woods, searching for lingering traces of Rachel’s scent.
He should have listened to his brother and left her at the party. Security detail had a habit of being especially boring. Necessary, but dull when nothing was going on.
They’d circled the perimeter he’d set for security once without incident and had been ready to make a second round when Rachel turned tail and took off.
He’d lost sight of her in the blink of an eye. Snowy white, she had perfect camouflage in the winter woods, making it that much harder for him to spot her.
Somewhere between the splintering tree branches, overloaded with snow, and the frozen creek her tracks had become muddled with those from the last hunting party. A musky smell of wolf hung in the air, but her particular fragrance had been drowned out by it.
Brady howled long and sharp, more warning than a request for reply. He wanted anyone within range to know he was there, on the hunt.
His call earned a few responses, but none carried any urgency. Where could she be? Why the hell would she run off? Anxiety had him turning around in circles, nearly frantic to find Rachel.
She was supposed to be under his protection. He couldn’t handle finding her in the same state she’d been in the last time she’d been alone in these woods.
Crunching snow caught his attention. He turned with a snarl and came face to face with Rachel’s snowy white wolf. Anger pinned his ears back as he locked eyes with her.
She wagged her tail, and with a yip, took off into the trees again, kicking up a storm of fresh powder in her wake.
Is she trying to get herself killed? He took off in a sprint after her.
As if she were completely oblivious to what was going on around her, she darted in between trees and ran circles around while Brady gave chase.
Maybe she was oblivious. Or maybe she truly felt safe with him. Her playful game of chase was just the sort of thing he’d enjoy in better times, and the idea of catching her as his prey gave his wolf extra incentive to pick up the pace, but the voice of reason warned that letting his guard down might prove disastrous.
Rachel darted and weaved as she ran. Brady matched her pace, studying her path and anticipating her next moves. Finally, as he was running short on breath, he caught her, sending her tumbling into the snow.
She yelped, but he knew he hadn’t hurt her. Surprised her, maybe. And when she hopped back up on all fours, the wag of her tail confirmed it again.
Brady pointed his snout in the direction of the compound and snorted a foggy breath at her. She growled and her tail dropped, but she began to trot in that direction.
Howls rose up on the breeze. But unlike the ones that had answered his moments earlier, these carried frantic urgency. Brady and Rachel took off together in the direction of their call.
A small group of wolves had gathered, some in their wolf form, others shifting human, gazing down to the ground as if trying to get a better look at something.
Brady pushed his way to the front of the assembly and shifted immediately. Below him, two males lay in the snow, their throats torn out and torsos covered in claw marks.
The icy breeze bit at Brady’s bare skin, but he paid it no attention as he inspected the dead. “What happened here?”
Everyone looked to one another, but no one had answers.
“Did anyone see who did this?” Brady bent for a closer inspection. They were his wolves. He’d just relieved them of duty when he and Rachel had begun their run through the forest. “Damn it! What the fuck happened here? Someone speak. Now!”
A wolf he did not recognize stepped forward, trembling. “We were chasing down some rabbits. A little game of who gets one first, you know. Me and my mate,” He reached out a hand and pulled a female in close to him. “We’d heard a warning call a few moments earlier, so we turned to come back to the compound, and found them both here, like this.”
Mated (Olde Town Pack Book 2) Page 11