by Kym Grosso
“I don’t know what’s really going on. I just know that tonight when you showed up, I was so relieved.”
“Not a fan of Nick?”
“Nick’s fine. He’s nice,” she said and took a deep breath. “But there’s something about you. I just…I don’t know what it is. Tonight…what you did to me, what we did. I’ve never felt that way before.”
“There’s something about you, too, cher.”
“I’ve never done anything like that in public…never even thought about it. It was crazy.”
“I’m looking forward to teaching you all kinds of things.”
“But Dimitri…we can’t keep doing this. It’s dangerous.”
“How so?”
“I don’t want to get hurt.”
“I’d never hurt you…ever.” His voice grew serious.
“But what if you find your mate?”
“What about it?” You are my mate, little one, he thought to himself.
“I’m not the kind of girl who plays around a lot. Between the wolves and not finding a tiger, I’ve only been with humans. They’ve never been enough,” she admitted.
“Too tame?” he guessed.
“Yeah, it’s just, like tonight…when we made love…God, I felt wild. I’ve never felt like that before.”
“So what’s the problem?”
“You could find your mate. I’ve heard that wolves don’t commit to anyone else. Don’t get me wrong, I mean, we just met, but I’m not a ‘friends with benefits’ kind of girl.”
“What makes you think I wouldn’t commit to a woman?”
“Because that’s how wolves are.”
“That’s how a lot of people are, not just wolves,” he countered.
“True, but humans are different. Hybrids are different. They aren’t sitting around waiting to find a mate. Seriously, have you ever dated someone for a long time, committed to them, knowing they weren’t your mate?” she asked.
“Well, no, but that doesn’t apply here.”
“What would happen if you committed to a girl and then your mate came along?” Gillian pinned him on the spot, getting to the crux of her argument.
“The attraction to one’s mate cannot be denied. There’ve been many women I’ve cared about. I’m not a callous man. But with my mate, it’s chemistry. Nature, fate at its finest. No matter who I’m seeing…who I’ve seen in the past, they will all pale in comparison to her.” Dimitri dug his fingers into her hair, loosening the pins. “I won’t be able to resist her. I may have been a single man, but she’ll change my life.”
“And that’s why we can’t continue. What if you find her? Even if you weren’t looking…”
“I haven’t been looking…it’ll be destiny.”
“Exactly. You won’t mean to hurt my feelings, but you will. You won’t have a choice.”
“I told you once…I’ll tell you a million times, darlin’, I’ll never hurt you. It’s not meant to be.” Dimitri wished he could tell her she was his mate, but now that he knew the truth about what their mating would do to her, he needed to think about what to do. As he twirled his finger into her hair, he wondered if maybe Ilsbeth could help them. She’d be pissed as hell, but even the witch couldn’t deny his preordained future.
“Why do I want to believe you? I really do, you know. But we both know that if you meet your mate, I’ll be but a distant memory.”
“You need to trust me.”
“I’m learning to trust you. But even you can’t control what the universe has in store for you. So this is why we can’t keep doing what we just did…it’s only going to make it harder.”
“Do you know how beautiful you are?”
“No. Are you changing the subject?” she giggled.
“I can’t seem to keep my hands off you,” he admitted, rubbing her neck.
“Staying away from you…it won’t be easy,” she breathed.
“Impossible,” he agreed. Letting his fingers drift down her chest, he lightly stroked her skin. “We’ll be careful…we shouldn’t stop.”
“What you said to me earlier…about submitting. Why’d you say that?”
“Your submission?” He’d meant it at the time, telling her he’d do it in front of Jake. Now, however, that he knew what he could do to her beast, he had second thoughts about moving forward.
“I’ve never submitted to anyone.”
“Maybe you haven’t found the right person.”
“You mean, the right wolf?”
“No, I mean person. Someone you trust. Someone who you feel so comfortable with that you will allow your true nature to surface. That person…you’d want to be wild and uninhibited without judgment.”
“I don’t know. Giving myself to someone, unconditionally trusting them?”
“Yes, exactly that…like tonight in the booth. It’s not something you have to plan, it can just happen.”
“I lost myself…I was so happy to see you.”
“What do you want?” he breathed as her hand skimmed under his waistband. “Gilly, do you know what you’re doing to me?”
“I want you…now,” Gillian found herself saying, unsure of why she couldn’t control her own feelings for Dimitri. Her hips began to undulate against his leg and her fingers traveled through the springy hair above his shaft. “Just one more time.”
“One more time,” he repeated. As she turned her head to look in his eyes, he kissed her gently, licking and nipping.
“Dimitri,” she moaned, her tongue sweeping against his. Gillian’s hand reached down past his dick, teasing the crease where his groin met his thigh.
“Aw, fuck. Take my cock,” he growled. She ran the tip of her fingers over his skin, toying with him, and he ordered her again. “Now, Gilly.”
Gillian did as he told her, fisting him, and he hissed. Fuck if it didn’t turn him on even more to watch her obey his demand. He could tell she was inexperienced and the fact she’d opened to him the way she’d done told him it was in her nature to experiment. Thankful that destiny had given him a curious mate, he swore he had to find a way to keep her.
“That’s it…just like that…ah, yeah,” he encouraged as she gently pumped him.
“You’re so hard,” she whispered, sliding the tip of her forefinger over his wet slit. Using the moisture, she gripped him, stroking his length.
He slid his hand down her chest, tugging the fabric down until she was exposed. Cupping her soft breast, he pressed his lips into her hair. The hard length of him throbbed, needing release. Considering his words, he decided to push her limits.
“Unbuckle my pants,” he told her. “Get up on your knees.”
“But Jake could…”
“Yes,” he responded, knowing that Jake might return. She’d grown aroused earlier when he’d suggested she liked being watched. She lifted her head and her eyes met his. “Do as I say, Gilly.”
Gillian’s gaze locked on his as she pushed upward, straddling his legs. Her hands reached for the front of her dress to cover herself.
“Leave it. I want to see you,” he said, the back of his knuckles brushing over her nipples. They stood at attention in response. “Look how hot you are.”
“I…I…what if someone sees me?” she replied, her head turning to the cockpit and back to Dimitri.
“Doesn’t matter. Leave it down. You’re beautiful.”
Gillian’s pussy dampened at his demand. On a visceral level she hadn’t known existed, she wanted this, to please him, to explore her sexuality with Dimitri. Despite her desire, her face turned red as she acquiesced. The fabric of her dress bunched up around her hips as she leaned forward and began to unbuckle his belt. Slowly she freed his cock from his pants, taking it back into her hands.
“Now suck me,” he told her.
With her eyes on his, Gillian bent over, her lips parted as she guided him into her mouth. The salty taste of his essence hit her tongue and her tiger came to life with hunger. She licked his broad head, enjoying the power she felt, knowing she could
bring him pleasure. Cold air hit her core as her bottom lifted into the air, reminding her that Dimitri had taken her panties earlier. The ache between her legs grew painful and she tilted her hips, attempting to relieve the pressure.
A sound behind her alerted her that they were no longer alone, and she saw Jake out of the corner of her eye. He looked as if he’d eat her alive. Gillian knew that wolves were a sexually open breed, but she’d never been exposed to their ways. For but a second, she considered her dark fantasy of what it would be like to have both men at once. Even though she found Jake attractive, it was Dimitri she craved. Her eyes fell back to her wolf and his eyes locked on hers. He gave her a wicked smile as if he knew what she’d been thinking. Their connection drove her desire, and her attention went to his thick flesh. Lost in her own lust, she took him into her mouth again.
Gillian had never had sex in front of another man, let alone a wolf. It should have felt wrong but it only made her pussy throb in excitement. She glanced to see where Jake had gone but he was nowhere in sight. Confused by her slight disappointment that he wasn’t watching, she shook off the guilt that she’d even had the thought. If she stayed with Dimitri, he’d push her boundaries further than anyone she’d ever dated. This had to be the last time they made love. She had to cut her addiction to him before she needed an intervention to leave. Tonight she’d have him, though. Like eating a gallon of ice cream the day before a diet, she indulged, bingeing on all that was Dimitri.
Releasing his shaft, she climbed up his torso. Positioning her entrance above his cock, she flattened her hands beside his head. She reached between her legs and swiped his hard sex through her wet folds, stimulating her clitoris. Throwing her head back, she hissed, flicking his plump head against her tight opening.
“Ah yes, fuck me. Now,” Dimitri demanded. He tilted his hips upward, his erection probing at her wetness.
Gillian grunted as she impaled herself on him. His broad cock stretched her channel, and she lowered herself all the way down until her clit brushed against his bristly hair. Slowly, she began to grind her pelvis against his, her taut nub engorged in arousal. Leaning forward, she darted her tongue against his chest, tracing the lines of his tattoos, until she reached his nipple. Taking the hard tip between her teeth, she tugged until Dimitri released a groan.
She lifted her hips, so that he slid out of her, then with a hard drop, she descended, pressing him deep inside. Her orgasm built as Dimitri increased the pace. His fingers dug into her hips and she moaned against his chest. Her pussy quivered as her climax rolled through her.
Dimitri took her soft breast into his hand as Gillian contracted around his cock. Plunging himself into her over and over, he bent his head forward, guiding her rosy nipple into his mouth. The pulsations around his cock caused him to buck uncontrollably. With a primal cry, he stiffened in release, his seed erupting deep inside her.
Gillian collapsed in ecstasy atop him and they both panted, attempting to catch their breath. Dimitri reached to flip the back of her dress over her bare bottom. But before he did so, he slapped her ass. She squeaked, but didn’t move an inch. Seconds passed, and he wondered why she’d gone still. Dimitri pushed the hair away from her face, and tilted his head to observe a small grin on her face. Her eyes closed, she’d fallen asleep. He lay his head back onto the sofa and dreamed of a long life with his mate. The only way he’d be able to have her was if he could find a way to save her, to ease her transition through the mating. But before he did that, he’d have to find a way to save himself.
Chapter Eleven
Dimitri stared at the spread of pain perdu, grits, and creole cream cheese with berries and sugar. Wearing only an apron around his hips, he took a quick swig of his freshly squeezed Satsuma juice before cracking an egg. The timer buzzed and he nearly burned his fingers, forgetting to don an oven mitt.
“Goddammit,” he swore.
For the past two days, Gillian had stayed in his home, and he was crawling the walls. True to her word, she’d insisted that making love on the plane had to be their final tryst. As such, he’d situated her in his guest room. Like a teenager with his first girly magazine, he’d spent a good portion of the time since then holed up in the bathroom, jerking off in a cold shower. And she’d been just as guilty, secluding herself in her bedroom. It wasn’t as if he couldn’t hear her soft moans as she touched herself. The scent of her arousal filtered throughout the house, driving him insane with desire.
The morning after they’d arrived, a delivery containing a camera and computer equipment arrived, courtesy of Jax. Gillian had used it as an excuse to ignore him, but today, he’d told her they’d go to see one of his favorite Krewes’ parades.
If he didn’t get out of the house soon, he was going to fuck her senseless or lose his mind. His sanity was stretched far. Not hearing from Ilsbeth only added stress to the situation. He’d texted her a dozen times, but she hadn’t called him back. He needed a damn cure for his wolf. When he’d made love to Gillian, something about their lovemaking had energized his spirit. But two days later, without his skin on hers, he could feel his ability to shift waning. Earlier he’d taken a double dose of the tonic, and he still wasn’t feeling well.
Out of desperation, he’d begun cooking. While he usually found the culinary arts a calming hobby, he was far gone. He’d already cooked enough breakfast to feed the entire pack and he’d just started on the grillades. Hearing a rap on his door, Dimitri called out to Jake.
“Come in,” he said, rummaging in the drawers for a meat mallet.
“Holy fuck, bro. What in the hell?” Jake’s eyes widened at the sight of all the food and his friend wearing next to nothing.
“Help yourself,” Dimitri said. He turned away, postponing the inevitable conversation that he’d delayed since the flight.
“Listen, D. I don’t know what the fuck is going on with you but I haven’t seen you cook this much food since Marcel died. Not that I don’t appreciate a good meal, but damn.” Jake sat at the kitchen counter, took a plate and snatched a biscuit off of the tray Dimitri held in his hands. “Ah…so good. You make the best muffins. God rest my mamma’s soul, these are the best I’ve ever had. Butter?”
“Honey?”
“Yeah, now stop with the shit. When are ya gonna spill it? Don’t think I didn’t notice you weren’t sharin’ on the plane.” Jake raised his eyebrows at Dimitri and smiled. “That’s right, beta. You wanna tell me or should I say it? No, I take that back. I’m not making it that easy for you.”
“It’s complicated.” Dimitri lifted the last pastry off the pan and dropped it into the bread basket.
“It always is, friend.” He picked up the honey bear and squeezed it onto his plate. “The question is…is it your wolf or your tiger?”
Dimitri picked up a dishtowel and wiped his hands. “Try both.”
“What’s the good news?”
“What the fuck do you mean, what’s the good news? I’m not sure there is any right now. Keep your voice down,” he shushed, glancing behind him. “She’s in the shower, but she’s goin’ to be out soon, and I don’t want her to hear us.”
“You do know I’m a wolf and not a psychic, right?” Jake smeared the sticky sweet mixture onto the flaky bread and took another bite.
“Let’s start with my wolf.”
Jake chewed. His mouth stuffed with food, he gestured with his hand for Dimitri to continue.
“Ilsbeth didn’t cure me. Whatever the hell hooked itself onto me is eatin’ at my wolf like a fifty-foot tapeworm.”
“Hey,” Jake protested. “Easy there…I’m eating.”
“She said it’s like a parasite. Not like a possession or anything like that. But it’s bad. She’s lookin’ for a spell, but she hasn’t returned my calls.”
Dimitri took a stool and pulled it to the other side of the kitchen bar. He sat down and reached for a plate.
“But Gillian did something to you in San Diego? She healed you. Can’t she keep doing that?”
<
br /> “Well, yeah. But again, it’s complicated.”
“Logan’s going to know. You’re his beta, for Christ’s sake.”
“Know what?”
“D, you may not mind lying to yourself, but come on.”
“Not lying…just hungry.” Dimitri took a big scoop of grits and shoveled it into his mouth, with a smile.
“The plane. I saw Gilly with your cock…”
Dimitri held his fingers to his lips and then pointed down to the hallway, which led to the bedrooms.
Jake shook his head and continued. “I saw her. She saw me. You saw me. And neither of you minded. But and this is a big but for you, because I’ll give her the benefit of the doubt, you didn’t even so much as ask me to watch, let alone join you. Now, I may not know Gillian that well but I know you. You, me and a hot chick on a long plane ride, and you ignore me? Well, that speaks volumes. And do you know what that says?”
“What?”
“Really? You’re going to make me say it?”
Dimitri grinned.
“Okay, fine. Have it your way.” Jake snatched another biscuit. “My point is that you like her. A lot. Too much. And you were possessive, a trait that’s not necessarily a bad thing but highly unusual for you.”
“She’s my mate,” Dimitri whispered. “Don’t make me say it again, ‘cause I told you it’s complicated.”
“Not possible. She’s a tiger,” Jake replied. “Hybrids can’t mate either. You must be confused. Maybe what you feel has to do with what’s got your wolf. No way she’s your mate.”
“Keep it down, will ya?”
“Hey, mum’s the word. But I’m still not buying it.”
“I know. It makes no sense. She said that something about her breed gives her the ability to mate with a wolf. But the mating isn’t a given. She can deny any mate she finds. It’s why Chaz’s mark doesn’t stay on her.”
“That’s a neat trick,” Jake quipped.
“Yeah, I could almost deal with that one. When I’m with her, it’s just like we’re combustible…she’s so hot,” he reflected. “The other thing is that my wolf seems to shake off this thing that’s killin’ him, or at least, I can’t feel it when I’m with her, skin to skin.”