One Night with the Wolf

by Anna Hackett

  He growled in her ear. “Tell me what you want.”

  She stared blindly at the moon partly hidden by the treetops. Her lips parted. What did she want? She wasn’t sure anymore. Not with this man’s hands on her.

  His fingers toyed with the next button but didn’t open it. “Say it.”

  “Pleasure,” she choked out.

  He undid another button. The night air was cool on her skin.

  “What else?”

  “Desire.” She rubbed against him. “Heat.”

  “What do you really want?”

  A sob caught in her throat. “You.”

  With a muttered curse, his hand slashed down and ripped the remaining buttons from her shirt. He spun her, yanking her hard against his chest.

  Rough hands tangled in her hair, angling her face up to his.

  Her gaze clashed with liquid golden eyes.

  Christian called himself all kinds of names and fool wasn’t the worst of them. He would damn himself tonight, but at least for one night, Jade would be his.

  “Christian—”

  “Don’t talk. You want pleasure, I’ll give it to you.”

  She shuddered. Indecision warred on her face. They both knew they shouldn’t do this.

  Then her hands ran across his shoulders. “Show me.”

  He crushed his lips to hers, thrusting his tongue into the warm welcome of her mouth. He plundered, he tasted and her head dropped back from the onslaught.

  Too rough. He reined in his raging desire. He gentled the kiss, made it an exploration. Her tongue mated with his, strokes that made the blood rush to his groin.

  Breaking off the kiss, he let his mouth slide down her neck. She smelled so good and the taste of her skin was mind-blowing. Her hands moved to the back of his head, scraping over his short hair.

  How many times had he imagined this? Her is his arms, surrendering to his desire? His mouth met lace. She wore a wispy bra the same color as her eyes. He nudged the fabric out of his way and closed his mouth over her nipple.

  She cried out, arching her back, pushing more of that beautiful mound against his face. He sensed the desire strumming inside. Waiting to be unleashed.

  He’d be the one to show her what true passion was like. He’d be the one she’d remember in the dark hours of the night.

  He scraped his teeth over that small nub, then moved to the other. Her leg wrapped around his hip and she made contact with the hard heat of him. He couldn’t control his growl.

  Damn. He had to slow down. Had to stop her touching him so he could pleasure her.

  He sank to his knees with her in his arms and laid her back on the soft grass. With a vicious tug, he yanked his shirt over his head. Her palms pressed against his skin before he could stop her. The touch was electric. Lost, he closed his eyes and let her roam.

  “So strong. All these muscles.” Her nails scraped his nipple. “I’ve watched you a lot when you’ve had your shirt off training with the other enforcers.”

  The thought of her watching him made him harden more.

  With barely leashed hunger, he pushed her down, unbuttoned her jeans and pulled the denim off her. Inch by inch he uncovered skin that even in the pale moonlight gleamed like gold. He wanted to lap at her, bite her.

  Lifting one slim leg, he started at her delicate ankles—small nips of his teeth soothed by the kiss of his lips. She twisted, husky cries caught in her throat. He worked upward, paid special attention to the sensitive area behind her knees.

  He wanted to sink his teeth into the smooth flesh of her inner thigh and make it sting, but he choked down the dark urge. She needed tenderness, not his feral hunger. When he nudged at her panties, she went taut.

  “Relax, sweetheart.” He pushed the lace away and wished they were in the light so he could see her sweet flesh. “Feel.”

  Leaning closer, he closed his mouth over her wet heat. She tried to rear up, but he held her down with a palm on her quivering belly. Her scent surrounded him, inflamed him. He licked, circling his tongue around the swollen nub. She tasted sweet, fresh and her moans drove him higher.

  He’d never held himself back like this. For him, sex had always been hard, fast and sweaty. A release of tension. He’d always made sure his partner had been left satisfied, but he’d never focused solely on a woman’s pleasure before.

  This was torture, but watching Jade’s pleasure—seeing it, scenting it—was also pleasure for him.

  Her legs wrapped around him, her heels digging into his back. She lifted her hips rhythmically, her tensing muscles telling him she was close. He lapped at her harder, caught that nub between his teeth.

  She screamed, her hands scratching at his shoulders so hard he knew she’d left marks. Satisfaction cascaded through him—at her pleasure and being marked by her.

  He rested his face on her thigh, waiting while she caught her breath. He had much more planned for her tonight. It was all for her and he didn’t plan to waste a minute of this night sleeping.

  When she sat up, they stared at each other. She smiled. “That was… Well, I bet you know, so I’m not going to stroke your ego.”

  A smile tugged at his lips. “You can stroke anything you like, sweetheart.”

  Something sparked in her eyes. “That’s a wonderful idea.”

  Her hands were on his chest again. Long, firm strokes tracing his muscles. He caught her wrist. “This is about your pleasure. Not mine. Why don’t you—”

  She gave a hard shake of her head, causing her curls to slide over one bare shoulder. The sight of her hair brushing the curve of her breast distracted him.

  She pulled her hand free. “My pleasure is to touch you. Explore you.”

  Those last words were drawn out in a way that made his stomach tighten. “Jade—”

  “Stand up.”

  He heard the order in her tone. It was her alpha voice, the one he’d heard her use with unruly members of the pack. It rankled.

  “Now, Christian.”

  He reminded himself this was her show. He stood, back stiff.

  She rose to her knees. Something about seeing on her knees in front of him, her face level with his thighs, caused the temper to drain out of him. Hot, liquid desire replaced it.

  When her fingers brushed over the bulge in his jeans, he jerked. When she unsnapped the top button, he sucked in a breath.

  Her blue eyes glinted in the darkness. “Take off your pants.”

  Chapter Three

  Christian was everything Jade had imagined. Big, hot and male. Hers.

  She could hardly believe this was Christian in front of her, slowly sliding his jeans off. He’d just licked her to orgasm. She shivered. She was anxious for more.

  But what about tomorrow when you have to walk away? Jade drowned out the voice. She wouldn’t let tomorrow intrude. For her there was only tonight.

  Only Christian.

  He stood naked before her. His thighs were strong columns covered with a light dusting of dark hair. The hard muscles of his stomach looked carved by a master. His erection curved upward, thick and full.

  Heat curled in her belly, storming through her veins. “Lie down.”

  She saw the flash in his eyes. He didn’t like her commands. He was an excellent second and never questioned her orders in front of the pack, but she knew he was dominant and guessed that in the bedroom he was used to holding the reins.

  Well, she only had this night and she wanted to experience everything she could. Right now she wanted to touch him. Taste him.

  He dropped down beside her, at complete ease with his nakedness. Most wolves were. They stripped off to shift and more than one pack member came back from a run naked.

  She explored that chest again. Gave the dark hair there a light tug. Her wolf liked that. She scratched her nails over his skin. He was so hard, solid. He’d hold his mate with that strength and keep her safe from the world. She’d never have to fear. She’d always be treasured.

  Jade hated the faceless woman.<
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  She ran fingers over his navel, his hipbones. Then she closed a fist around his length. He bucked beneath her, and then went still. She took her time, stroked the heated steel of him. Mesmerized, she found a rhythm, then leaned down and tasted him.

  He growled, a long, deep sound that shivered through her. She savored every sound he made, every buck of his hips, the hard grip of his hand in her hair. She tucked away every memory in a deep place in her mind. A place she’d visit again when she wanted to remember.

  “Jade—” he tugged at her hair gently “—let me love you.”

  Tears pricked her eyes. No one had ever said that to her before. She swirled her tongue over the head of him and almost smiled at his curse. She wanted to finish this discovery first. She wanted to love him.

  She closed her mouth around him. Reading the movements of his body, his guttural sounds, she slid him deep into her throat. When he couldn’t hold back his release any longer, she reveled in the taste of him.

  Then she collapsed on his heaving chest. His hands slid over her back, his fingers tracing up her spine.

  “I’m pretty sure Marius didn’t teach you that,” Christian said in a lazy voice.

  Heat filled her cheeks and she was glad he couldn’t see her face. “No. Let’s just say I’ve had plenty of time to imagine.”

  Sitting up, he scooped his arms around her. Then he stood, bringing her with him in a display of shifter strength. She wrapped an arm around his neck.

  Closing her eyes, she fantasized what it would be like to belong to him. To have him carry her to their bed.

  “Let’s wash off in the stream.” He carried her down the gentle bank and walked into the water.

  “It’ll be freezing,” she protested. When the cold water lapped at her bottom, she squeaked.

  “It’s stimulating.” With a laugh, he ducked under the water.

  She came up spluttering. “We’ll freeze to death.”

  “Then how about a run to warm us up?”

  Christian knew other ways to warm her up, but right now he needed to do something to shore up his control.

  She’d just shattered him with that clever mouth of hers and if he was going to make it through the night without attacking her and rutting on her like an animal, he needed that naked body hidden for a while.

  He watched her shift, that pleasurable sensation of skin to fur, human to beast. It wasn’t the ripping and popping of bones like in the movies. It was a glide from one form to another and it felt impossibly good.

  She was a gorgeous wolf. Small and sleek in all shades of gray. Her ears were rimmed in black, but the color of her eyes stayed the same. That stunning azure-blue contrasting with her fur.

  He’d thought with the naked skin gone, he’d feel better. But she was still too damned tempting.

  He called on his animal and stepped into the change. Muscles stretched and tingled. Pleasure washed over him and his wolf rejoiced.

  Moments later he stood beside her. He was much bigger, towering over her. His fur was white on his legs and belly, bleeding to tan at his middle and black along his spine.

  Jade rubbed up against him and he smelled her scent. Earth and forest, but under it she still smelled like Jade. Like flowers and vanilla.

  He nudged her with his muzzle. She spun and launched into a run.

  He followed her through the trees, admiring the way she ran, the graceful movements of her body.

  The pull of the moon was strong tonight, tempting him to let his human instincts recede behind his wolf. It was always a balance, the relationship between man and wolf. They weren’t entirely human or entirely animal.

  He leaped a fallen log and gave Jade a hard nudge. She spun and tried to nip his shoulder. Then she pranced away. She cast him a look over her shoulder, and he saw the challenge in her eyes. This time she melted into the trees so fast he almost didn’t see her move.

  Christian took chase.

  He was bigger and faster, but he didn’t want the game to end too soon. She was enjoying herself. It was rare to see her without the mantle of responsibility weighing her down. She looked free and easy, like any other woman her age.

  They ran through the moonlight, sometimes stopping to explore smells that lured them or to investigate a rustle of leaves that caught their ears.

  Heading back toward the clearing, Christian sensed the prickle of someone watching them. He didn’t say anything to Jade, just prowled around, sniffing for a scent.

  Nothing. The prickle faded away, but his nerves stayed taut. Could just be an animal.

  Then Jade danced around him and ran ahead into the clearing. Shaking off the feeling, not wanting to waste any of their time together, he raced after her and pounced. He came down on top of her.

  She shifted to human form, laughing as she ran her hands through his thick fur. “You’re a handsome wolf.” She ran hand down his flank in a long stroke. “All honey and black.”

  Content to stay in wolf form, he pressed his muzzle between her breasts.

  “One track mind, no matter what the form.” She curled against him. “That run was wonderful. I haven’t let my wolf out for so long. Too long.”

  Since Marius’s death. Christian knew she’d been too busy. And over the last month she’d been nervous preparing for the Courting, reassuring her pack she’d protect them.

  The reminder of what tomorrow held had the happiness in Christian leaking away. He tried to move away, but she held firm.

  “Not yet,” she whispered.

  Unable to deny her, he relaxed against her.

  “I remember when you came to my pack, Christian.” Her words were a murmur. “I remember every detail. You were so beaten, bruised, but your gold eyes were aflame.”

  He tensed under her hands. There was a gaping hole inside him when he thought of his pack. Being exiled was like losing a limb, losing the heart of what made him wolf.

  Jade made him yearn for all the things he’d lost, made him wish things were different. But he could never go back.

  Her slim hands slid up into the fur on his neck. “I’ve wondered where you came from. Who was stupid enough to let you go?”

  Emotion churned inside him. He changed back to human form and ignored her slim legs tangling with his. “I come from nowhere. I’m an exile.”

  “But—”

  His hands cupped her shoulders and he gave her a quick shake. “No buts. I don’t look back. Exile means I have no family, no pack, nothing to offer.”

  She sat up, eyes sparking. “Anyone with half a brain can see you have skills well beyond my enforcers. And you have a pack. You’re a brilliant second, and Thorne is lucky to have you.”

  She was magnificent. Defending him against himself.

  “As alpha, I have to wonder if someone will come looking for you one day.”

  Pain twisted his insides. He remembered the heated words, the slash of claws and the thud of fists that had led to his exile. “No one will come looking for me.”

  She wrapped her arms around him, her head tucked under his chin. “They can’t have you anyway. You’re Thorne now.”

  Her breasts rubbed against his chest, sparking his hunger again. He closed his eyes and drew in her sweet scent. What she didn’t realize was that after tonight he couldn’t be Thorne any longer.

  He couldn’t watch her marry another alpha. Couldn’t see her every day knowing she belonged to another man.

  The urge to howl choked him. He wanted his claws unsheathed, ready to challenge anyone who’d take her away from him.

  Instead, he pushed to his feet. “How about you try and catch me this time?”

  That was all the warning he gave her. He shifted and headed for the trees.

  Christian ran hard and fast, hoping he could shed some of the aggression pumping through his system. He didn’t want to waste this night filled with fury.

  He heard her behind him, fighting hard to keep up with his brutal pace. He wanted to smile. Jade was tough and hated losing. He didn
’t slow down. His dominant wolf admired her strength. A meek, submissive woman would never have touched him like this one. She’d be a mate a wolf could be proud of.

  When he reached the stream, he slowed. Turning, he watched and waited.

  Nothing. Something rustled high up in the trees, then the sound of wings taking flight. But no sleek, gray wolf bulleted from the trees.

  His chest tightened. Had she fallen, hurt herself?

  Or had whoever he’d sensed earlier returned?

  His chest froze, then he broke into a run. He should’ve trusted his instincts earlier, not let her cloud his mind.

  He picked up her trail and followed it. He saw other wolf prints join her smaller ones. Two large wolves were chasing her. Had members of the pack come looking for her?

  A few feet later, he saw a trail of her blood on the ground. The stench of her growing fear mixed with her scent.

  Christian felt a molten rush of fury. He charged forward, driven by the need to protect.

  Chapter Four

  Christian’s paws pounded a hard rhythm through the darkness. The temptation to let his beast have free rein was great, but he held the leash on it with single-minded focus. He had to find Jade.

  One huge gray had her pinned to the ground. She was still in wolf form, trying to bite her assailant as she twisted beneath him. Angry slashes bled on her tender belly, and the gray had matching gashes on his.

  Courageous little fool. Another gray, taller and rangier, paced close by, tension in his body.

  Christian didn’t stop to plan or think. He attacked. A feral snarl erupted from his throat.

  The rangier beast he took by surprise. With a slash of claws, he tossed the wolf into the solid trunk of a tree. There was a sharp crack of bone and the wolf slid to the ground, not moving.

  The other wolf pressed his jaws around Jade’s vulnerable throat, his dark eyes daring Christian to come closer.

  Fighting back the bloodlust of his animal, Christian tried to think. Who the hell were these wolves? Rouges out for blood and females?

  He didn’t think so. Rogues never roamed in pairs. Then the scent of them worked into senses, past the red tide of his rage.