The soft smile on her face faded as a heavy stone settled in her stomach once she realized that she was now alone—with Eric. The sound of his footsteps drawing closer had her heart lurch. Frantic, she searched for any reason, any excuse to keep him at arm’s length—or further from her. Turning to face the freezer, she began pulling out cuts of meat for dinner.
“I want to talk to you.” Eric’s voice slid out like a caress against the back of her neck, drawing a shiver from her in response.
Her stomach tightened. He felt so close. She drew in a shaky breath as her tongue darted out to lick at her bottom lip. What could he possibly want to talk about? Couldn’t they just go back to him despising her? Things were much easier when he simply growled out his rude responses to her every time they’d talked in the past.
“I’m busy.” She mumbled, keeping her back to him. Her shaking hands clutched the packs of frozen meat like a lifeline.
Moving to the side of her, Eric eyed her with a hard look. “No, you’re avoiding me and I won’t let you do that; not anymore.” He argued calmly. Reaching out, he took the packs of meat from her hands.
“I’m not avoiding anything.” She said with stubborn disagreement. “I just don’t want to talk to you.”
“Well, that’s just too damn bad.” Continuing to give her a hard look, he tossed the meat onto the counter to his left. The frozen meat landed with a loud bang, causing Rebecca to flinch at the sound.
“There’s nothing to talk about.” She bit out, lifting her chin stubbornly. Jerking her gaze from his, she attempted to step around him. Eric moved so quickly she barely saw his hand shoot out to snag her arm and spin her toward the counter until she was pinned, facing him.
“Let go of me.” She hissed out, her eyes flashing up at him as he pressed her back into the edge of the counter.
She breathed out a gasp of surprise as she felt his hard bulge brush against her stomach. The touch sent electric sensations to her womb. Her cheeks flooded with heat when she recalled how he’d touched her and how he’d made her feel. She couldn’t do this. She had to get away from him. With him this close it was impossible for her to pretend. She couldn’t pretend that the scent of him didn’t fire her blood and she couldn’t pretend that the other night hadn’t happened.
His hands slid slowly up her bare arms to massage her upper arms. His hands felt as though they were burning through her skin and stealing all the strength she possessed.
“Do you think about it?” his words softly whispered close to her face.
Startled, she pressed her hands to his chest in a vain attempt to prevent him from stealing more of her personal space. “Think of what?” she scowled.
“The other night.” his lips curled into a teasing smile. One of his hands lifted to trail a finger teasingly across the high neckline of her t-shirt. “The way I touched you…” he slid his trailing fingers up the slope of her neck as she gulped nervously until he stopped at her mouth. “…and the way I kissed you.” His thumb smoothing along her bottom lip as he moved closer to her.
Panicked, she shook her head and in doing so; dislodged his caressing fingertip. “No.” she lied.
It was true that she had thought about what he’d done to her that night. She couldn’t stop thinking about it, even when she was asleep. Sensual dreams of her and Eric; a tangle of limbs and silken sheets had invaded her night and left her needy. That night he’d awakened something in her that she wished would have been left buried. She couldn’t trust what she was feeling. Getting involved with Eric would put her in jeopardy. Her life was more important than submitting to the sexual need he’d awoken within her. Plus; if she had to, she was more than capable of taking care of the problem herself.
“I know you’re lying.” Eric whispered low, his tone dark. “Why are you fighting this?”
“Because it is wrong. You’re my boss and I won’t be one of your one-time flings and that’s what I would be to you.”
Much to Rebecca’s relief, Eric sighed heavily before taking a step back from her. “I don’t know what it is that I want from you, Rebecca. All I know is that you are mine.” He practically growled out the word “mine”.
Glaring at him, she slashed her hand through the air as if she could whip the word away with such a gesture. “I am not your anything.” She bit out.
“You are. That means you don’t get to repeat what happened the other night unless it is with me. No dating other men or kissing them.” he hissed out low enough to where they wouldn’t be over heard. “You are my woman; whether you understand this yet or not. If nothing else; the other night when I touched you should have been a clue to you.”
“The other night meant nothing!” she bit out, pacing away from him. “You didn’t do anything to me that I couldn’t do to myself. Anything you did that night…” she trailed off, her face flooding with color once more at the memory. “…was just you attempting to prove a point.”
He stalked closer to her. His eyes flashed dangerously at her, causing her to step back. “Then you need a recap if you didn’t see what I was showing you that night.”
“If I never had to relive that night again; I would be very happy.”
* ~ * ~ *
Lies! Make her tell the truth! Eric’s wolf snarled at her words.
The scent of her lie swirled around her and mingled with the scent of her fear. From the slight tremble of her hands as he regarded her; Eric could see that Rebecca was terrified. He was pushing too hard and she was lashing out at him. Though it angered him that she would deny that what had happened between them didn’t mean a thing, he forced himself to not lash out at her.
He would get nowhere with her while she was hissing at him like a cat on the defense. He would have to wait until Travis and Emma went to bed for the night, when they did; she wouldn’t be able to run from him.
His first mistake had been giving her time to contemplate his actions after pleasuring her that night. He should have taken her right then. Everything else would have worked out later on. But he’d stupidly thought she would come to him on her own. She thought that she could hold herself back from him.
His lips thinned at the thought. He couldn’t—wouldn’t go back to before that night. He didn’t understand what was drawing him to her, but he’d be damned if he listened to her fear induced words. He would give her space—for the moment. But she wouldn’t be leaving this house until this was settled between them.
Rebecca stabbed both of her hands through her hair in aggravation. Without saying a word to him, she retrieved the meat from the far counter and laid the packets on the stove before bending to pull out a skillet.
“I have work to attend to. I will be in my office; in case you need anything.” He stated flatly.
“I won’t.” she argued, not bothering to look at him.
Her stubborn response was nearly his undoing. If Emma and Travis hadn’t been home, he probably would have been on her in a flat second after that. Hell; he’d probably would have dragged her up to his bedroom and kept her up there until she admitted that she felt the same hunger within her.
Taking a deep breath, he fought down his animal nature; the need to dominate. He had to force himself to walk away and head toward his office. Each step he took caused him to feel his wolf growing stronger. Rebecca had won herself a short reprieve; but it would be the only one she would ever get again.
8
A few hours later, Eric was drawn back to the kitchen at the mouthwatering aroma that floated through the house. Entering the dining room, he watched as Rebecca was serving up dinner and setting the table. His knees nearly buckled at the sight of the food she was putting out. Rebecca had made beef stroganoff with freshly made bread rolls. She’d prepared a salad as well, but he knew that he wouldn’t be touching that rabbit food.
He was nearly knocked over as his children came barreling down the stairs and straight into the dining room. He watched with as Emma and Travis hovered around Rebecca at the stove; attempting to
get a closer look at the food she was dishing out.
“Go sit down.” She said, effectively shooing the twins from the kitchen as she finished her task.
Moving back to the dining area, Travis and Emma raised their perplexed faces to him as they seemed to notice their father leaning against the wall for the first time. He could understand their confusion. It was rare that he got to eat with his children. Pack concerns and his architecture business kept him busy. But tonight nothing would pull him away; he’d made certain of that.
When Rebecca had exited the kitchen area carrying several plates, she froze too at the sight of him. Smirking at her with a knowing look, he settled into a chair without as much as a word. Almost immediately his children followed his suit and climbed into their seats, eyeing Rebecca eagerly as she approached the table with their food.
“You’re eating with us, Dad?” Travis asked snatching up his fork as soon as Rebecca placed a bowl of stroganoff in front of him.
“Yes, I am. That is if I can have some. Rebecca?” he asked with false innocence, gesturing to his empty plate. Glaring back at him she all roughly slid a full bowl at him, nearly dumping the contents in his lap had he not caught the dish.
Rebecca made several more trips back to the kitchen; bringing out the large salad bowl, drinks and a bread basket before taking her seat between Emma and Travis. Attempting to ignore the fact that Eric was sitting with them, Rebecca attempted to turn her attention solely on her food.
Taking a bite of the pasta dish in front of him, Eric nearly swore as the creamy sauce covered noodles and meat exploded on his tongue. “Rebecca?” he groaned out with pleasure, drawing her attention.
Rebecca’s eyes drifted up from her bowl with a raised brow. “What is it?”
“This,” he began, motioning at his food. “…is incredible. If you always cook like this I may just have to keep you.” His eyes watched her for a reaction. She didn’t disappoint him as her cheeks flushed before she quickly looked away.
“Thank you…” she mumbled, attempting to cover up her embarrassment.
Reaching for a dinner roll, Eric dipped it in his bowl before bringing it to his mouth. Half way through their dinner, Emma’s small innocent voice cut through the silence that swelled within the room.
“Can we have ice cream after dinner, Daddy?” Emma asked, flashing him her best pleading look.
“Sure, I think I might need something sweet too.” He glanced conspiringly at Rebecca across the table. “How about it, Rebecca? Do you know where I can get something creamy and sweet?” he asked with a grin. He couldn’t help but smirk at the wash of color that flooded her cheeks once more as she caught his hidden meaning.
All through the remainder of dinner, Rebecca did her best to avoid talking to him, much less even looking at him. Phase one of his plan was accomplished, she was aware of his interest, and she wasn’t as indifferent as she’d like him to believe. As soon as Emma and Travis were in bed for the night she would have nowhere to run, he’d begin laying phase two into motion.
After the twins had eaten as if it were the last scraps of food on the planet; they smiled with happiness as Rebecca collected their plates and returned with two small bowls of chocolate ice cream. Eric noted with a soft scoff that she had purposely not brought him one as well. After they had practically licked their bowls clean, Eric leaned back in his chair, folding his arms behind his head.
“Time for bed.” Almost instantly both of the twins groaned in despair. Shooting them a firm look before they could begin to barter for more time, Eric shook his head. “Go get ready for bed.”
For a brief moment the twins cast a glance toward Rebecca as she was collecting the dishes and carrying them to the sink to be washed. Seeing that she would not aid them against their father’s wishes; with frowning faces, the twins slid from their chairs and headed off to do as they were told.
After collecting the last dish from the table, Rebecca returned with a damp wash cloth and began to whip the table clean. His eyes never strayed from her for a moment.
“Stop it!” she huffed out in loss of patience as she tossed a damp wash cloth in his face. Jerking the wet cloth off his face, he smiled up at her as she headed back into the kitchen.
“What did I do now?”
“Stop looking at me like that.”
“Like what? Am I making you nervous?” he teased.
“No.” she mumbled. Filling the sink with soapy water, all the while she was too aware that he followed behind her.
Dumping the dishes in a sink full of wash water, Rebecca stiffened as she felt his body heat at her back. He didn’t move to touch her or even to speak. Ignoring him the best she could, her hands moved quickly through the water. When she found herself all too focused on her task, Eric started her by wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her back tightly against his front.
“You should be nervous, Rebecca. If you knew the things you make me want to do to you.”
“You’re acting crazy, Eric.” She inwardly groaned. It felt so good to be in his arms. The warm steel bands around her caused her to feel protected and loved. Which made it hurt all the more. Shoving at his arms, Rebecca forced herself to put space between them, for both their sakes.
“Why are you doing this? Why can’t you just leave me alone? I work for you! Don’t you have any self respect?”
His eyes flashed over her with amusement and unhidden interest. “What does self respect have to do with it? I want you and I know you want me. Why fight it?”
“So what? You just decide that I’m to be your new sex toy and I fall in line?”
Rolling his eyes, Eric scoffed. “If only.”
“Look.” Rubbing her tired eyes, she took a step closer to him. “I need this job, Eric. I like this job and I’m not going to risk it.”
“Tough. I am willing to risk it.” Quickly moving forward, Eric backed her against one of the counters.
Wrapping her fingers around the edge of the counter, Rebecca lifted her chin; refusing to shrink away from him like the rabbit he’d called her. Reaching out; Eric wrapped the length of her ponytail around his fist, using her hair like a handle to tip her head back as he pressed against her.
“Be as stubborn as you wish, but I have never backed down from a challenge and I will win.” Rebecca answered him with a doubtful glare. Before she could throw a barbed insult at his arrogant statement, his lips covered hers as if she were the last drop of water in the desert. His teeth nipped at her bottle lip demanding entre. Rebecca tried to remain motionless beneath his lips, but his kiss made her blood sing. Made her body ache in ways she’d only read about.
How she wanted to give herself to him, to love him as she desired to. But the image of her parent’s bloody, mangled bodies flittered into her mind. It very may have been one of his pack members that killed her parents. Would he take her side against his own kind, people he’d played with and grew up with? No. he wouldn’t.
Shoving her hands between their hypersensitive bodies, she shoved with all her might against an impenetrable wall of hard muscle. However, she succeeding in only pushing his lips off of hers. Taking a steady breathe, her hands struggled to pry his strong arms from around her waist.
“We need to stop.” She whispered breathlessly, refusing to meet his eyes as he looked curiously down at her.
Eric shook his head. “There is no stopping this now. There is no going back for either of us. That chance became out of reach the moment you let me touch you.”
“I won’t accept.” She argued in a haunting voice. Shaking her head with worried eyes, she took a step backwards, forcing a safe distance between them. “Just because we…” her hand waved between them, awkwardly indicating to what had happened between them. “…did that, doesn’t mean that you get to suddenly own me.”
“I may not own you, but you are mine and I refuse to let you run away from this cause you are scared.” Eric bit out.
“I am not scared of you, Eric.” It was a lie.
The truth was; she was terrified of him…of her need of him. Eric had this pull about him, drawing her closer to him even as she struggled to stay away from him.
“Then prove it.” Eric replied gently. Stepping closer to her, He reached out. His large hand cupped her chin and forced her eyes to meet his. “Stop fighting this. I don’t understand this need I have for you, but the thought of being forced from you shreds my insides. I want to explore it. Give whatever is between us a chance.”
Briefly, Rebecca’s eyes searched his. She didn’t know what she expected to see within his emerald eyes. It was honesty mixed with pleading. Eric…was pleading? That was a mind-boggling concept. Not once in the couple of months that she’d known Eric had he ever looked or acted pleadingly. Deep down, she wanted trust what he was saying, but she couldn’t. Her chest ached with as a terrifying voice from a distant memory echoed through her mind.
None of my kind will let you live now. Others will come for you and you will never know mercy from my kind…
Jerking her head away, she forced herself to look at him with indifference. “I don’t want to give it a chance.” she whispered with a flat tone. “The other night was a mistake; one I don’t want to repeat with you.” Taking in a deep breath, she forced her next words out as a knot twisted her stomach tightly. “I don’t want you.”
For a moment, Eric had no expression or reaction to her words as he took in her words. Had he even heard her? Soon his relaxed expression shifted. His eyes darkened in reaction to her lifeless words. His lips pressed together into a tight line before he finally spoke. “Fine.” his voice came out sounding more like a growl than anything and it made Rebecca shiver with fear. She flinched back as he pointed at her accusingly. “I know you feel the need—the connection between us. That won’t go away. Sooner or later; you will be forced to acknowledge it and when that happens, you will come to me.”
Rebecca scoffed, tossing her head back. “Get a grip! You just want sex and I’m convenient. I don’t even like you, Eric, and I know you definitely don’t like me. Why in the world would I ever come to you if I wanted a relationship?” she asked, sarcastically holding her arms out at her sides.
Hunger of the Heart (Wolves of Ravenwillow Book 1) Page 11