“Works for me.” I took off the robe and unzipped my jeans. I pulled them off and handed them to her. My boxer briefs were no match for the raging woody, but I attempted to adjust myself a little so I could walk to the couch.

  When she finally looked at my face, a smile tugged at the corners of my mouth. “I’ll meet you on the couch.”

  She nodded, and I turned, heading into the living room. I could almost feel her watching my ass. My only regret was leaving my damned underwear on.

  CHAPTER 11

  Ruby

  I tossed his clothes into the dryer and pressed Start. Once the motor roared to life, I allowed the rest of my giggles out. Zeke was the sexiest man I’d ever seen, but watching him trying to wriggle into my robe had done something to me. He’d been sexy already in that untouchable, movie star kind of way, but just now, he’d been adorable.

  I knew he didn’t have any interest in the robe. He was only attempting to cover up because I had suggested it. Ever since the moment we met, he’d been doing little things to protect me, even when he didn’t have to, and it made it tough not to fall for him.

  He made it easy to pretend I hadn’t had a vision of my own death—probably his, too—although I’d broken free of it before his blood was spilled.

  Nate danced around my feet as if warning me that his new friend was on the couch. I bent down to scoop him up. I nuzzled him against my cheek. “I like Zeke, too.”

  I went into the kitchen and gave Nate a soft, chewy treat to keep him busy, and then I headed for the living room. Zeke was on the couch with the television on. The blanket I kept on the back of the sofa was now across his lap, and I stood there like a deer in headlights, rationalizing my next move. I was the one who had invited Zeke inside and suggested he take off his clothes to dry them. This wasn’t an accident.

  But if I got underneath that blanket with him, I wasn’t going to be able to keep my hands to myself.

  As if he could hear my thoughts, Zeke looked over at me, his gaze locking with mine. “For tonight, let’s just be us. No coven and no pack.” He lifted the side of the blanket. “Come sit with me.”

  Could life really be that simple? I doubted it, but maybe just for tonight. I crossed the room and sat beside him. The warmth under that blanket surrounded me like an embrace. He clicked the television off and met my eyes. “I can’t stop thinking about kissing you.”

  I wet my lips. “Same.”

  His eyes sparkled. “So you wouldn’t mind if we did it again?”

  “I did invite you in and took your clothes.” My mouth curved into a smile.

  He nodded, coming closer until the heat of his breath teased my skin. “I noticed.” His gaze wandered to my bare shoulders and back up to my face. “You’re also overdressed.”

  I tipped my chin up, my lips almost brushing his as I whispered, “Maybe you can help me with that.”

  His teeth grazed my lower lip as he grinned and closed the distance between us. His hand slid down from my cheek to my neck, and the other moved down the side of my body until he reached my thigh. I moaned, my tongue twining with his, hungry for more of this passion he kindled in me.

  I ran my hand up his bare chest, threading my fingers through the soft thatch of hair in the center. He growled in response, his hand sliding up my leg, pushing my skirt up with it. His touch set me on fire, making me ache for more, and we weren’t even naked yet. I needed to be closer.

  He dragged his lips along my neck, his voice deep and husky as he said, “I need you.”

  Grasping my hips, he lifted me to straddle his lap as our mouths fused together again. I tilted my head, deepening the kiss as I tangled my fingers in the back of his wet hair. He wrapped his arms around me so tight I could barely catch my breath. Or maybe it was the kiss leaving me breathless. Either way, I didn’t need air. I rocked my hips, rubbing myself along his pulsing erection, wishing the thin fabrics of my thong and his underwear would vanish.

  Sadly, I didn’t have a spell for that.

  He kissed his way down my neck, pulling back just long enough to lift my top over my head and toss it aside. The desire in his eyes as his gaze wandered over my black lace push-up bra made every minute of this underwire torture device worth it. He pressed his lips to one breast and then the other before meeting my eyes. “You’re so damned hot.”

  I looked down at myself, my breasts heaving, and my skirt pushed up around my waist exposing my black satin thong, and I felt…hot. I met his eyes, my breasts jutting forward, and I reached behind me to unhook the strapless bra. It came loose, and I dropped it to the floor. He cupped my breasts, and my nipples tightened. I arched my back as he brought each one to the heat of his mouth, licking and sucking them until my hips were working into him, my body already begging for release.

  His slid one hand down between my legs, his fingertips searching out my clit right through the thin fabric. My breath caught as he rubbed it so slowly I might scream.

  He claimed my lips again and whispered, “I’ll buy you another pair.”

  Before his words registered, he tore the thong like it was paper and his fingers plunged through my folds and into the wet heat of my core. I almost came. His tongue explored my mouth while his fingers slid out and circled my swollen clit, faster now.

  I broke the kiss, as I rode his hand. He ran his tongue up the center of my chest before catching my nipple in the warmth of his mouth. I pulled at his hair as my muscles contracted.

  His voice was raspy against my skin. “Come, baby. Don’t hold back… I’ll give you more.”

  My entire body tensed as my orgasm claimed me harder than I’d ever experienced. I almost saw stars. And this was just with his fingers. Holy shit.

  I struggled to catch my breath as I looked down into his eyes. He had a wolfish grin as he lifted me off his lap and laid me back on the couch. He took one ankle and hooked it up over the back of the couch, and pushed my other leg off the front, opening me widely to him.

  He shook his head, his lips parted as his gaze wandered over me. “So sexy.”

  I wasn’t even tempted to cover myself or close my legs. This passion in his eyes was all-consuming. I wanted him to claim every inch of me. Ached for it. He dipped a finger inside my opening, and I rocked my hips into him, hungry for more. He added another finger and then one more, stretching me.

  “I’m starving for you,” he whispered as he leaned down and pressed his mouth to my clit, his tongue circling as his fingers worked into me.

  I tightened my hands in his hair, rocking my hips into him. Seeing his head buried between my legs was so erotic, I slipped over the edge again, overcome by another orgasm. He withdrew his fingers, his tongue driving into me as he licked and tasted all I had to offer. I was almost dizzy as I came back to Earth, my chest heaving for breath as he lifted his head.

  “Catch your breath, but we’re not finished.” His fingers parted my folds as he circled my sensitive clit.

  I shivered all over. “Don’t know…how much more…I…can take.”

  He wiped his chin with a sexy spark in his eyes. “More research.”

  My gaze wandered down his chest to his erection. The tip had escaped through the opening in his boxer briefs, and already I was envisioning him inside me. My body warmed. I wanted to make him feel as good as I did right now.

  I pushed myself up and brought my leg down. He lifted a brow. “Where are you going?”

  I wet my lips. “I think you’re the overdressed one now.” I stood on wobbly legs and straddled him. “If I had your werewolf strength, I could buy you a new pair, too.”

  He took the opportunity to reach between my legs and stroke me. “I didn’t bring a condom.”

  His last word burned through the pleasure-induced haze of what was left of my brain. “So we won’t have sex.”

  I bent forward and caught the waistband of his shorts. He lifted his hips so I could push them down as he kissed me hard. I could taste myself in his mouth, and something possessive rose inside me. He was mine. I pressed wet kisses down his chest as his fingers slid into my hair. Grasping his shaft, I slid my lips around the tip, drinking in the sound of his growl. I smiled as I took him deeper into my mouth, my tongue circling him.

  There was power in knowing I had this strong werewolf at my mercy, but all I wanted was to make him surrender, to make him feel as good as he’d made me feel. I worked my lips along his length, sucking at him each time he pulsed in my mouth. His hips ground into me, trying to rush my pace. I resisted his efforts as his hand slid down my back to grip my ass.

  “I want to make you come, too,” he whispered. “Get up here.”

  He started to turn and lay back on the couch, and I lifted my head, unsure what he was trying to do. He reached down, grabbed my waist, and picked me up like I weighed nothing, bringing my hips up to him. My knees settled on either side of his head and he pulled me down to his mouth. I moaned around him, sucking at his length. I’d had sex many times before, but this position was a first for me.

  And I liked it.

  I slid my fingers along his groin until I traced them across his balls, shivering as he moaned into me. The closer to the edge of another orgasm I got, the faster I worked my lips along his shaft, teasing the tip with my tongue.

  He fed on me feverishly, and suddenly his fingers entered me. I rocked back into them aching as the pleasure consumed me. His balls clenched, and he erupted. I lifted my head, moaning as I reached for the blanket and wiped my face. I wasn’t a swallower.

  And now I wasn’t sure how to untangle myself in some kind of sexy way.

  Zeke gave my ass a pat. “Turn around and come here.”

  I chuckled as he helped me maneuver without kicking him in the head. Finally, he cradled me in his lap. I wiped my mouth again with a sheepish smile. “I’ve never done it…like that before.”

  He caressed my thigh and pressed a kiss to my shoulder. “Did you like it?”

  “Yes.” I nodded. I met his eyes. “Did you?”

  He grinned. “Oh yeah.”

  Okay, that sexy smile had my blood heating up all over again. He made me insatiable.

  I rested my forehead on his. “I wish we could just stay here on my couch.”

  He chuckled. “You’re not about to bring the real world in, are you?”

  I laughed. “You have a better suggestion?”

  “I could go see if my clothes are dry and run to the drugstore for condoms.”

  My eyebrows popped up. “But you just…You’re ready again?”

  He pulled me down for a kiss and whispered, “Another werewolf perk is we…recover faster.”

  I smiled as I claimed his lips again. “Good to know.”

  He growled into my mouth and stood, lifting me with him. “Where’s your bedroom?”

  “Upstairs to the right.”

  He carried me up the stairs without any outward effort and laid me on my bed. “Don’t go anywhere. I’ll be right back.”

  I watched his bare ass as he left my room and then stretched out on my bed.

  My body was sore in all the right places, and when my mind tried to interrupt, my afterglow banished all rational thought.

  Nothing about what had just happened downstairs felt wrong.

  CHAPTER 12

  Zeke

  My clothes were still warm from the dryer when I stepped out into the frigid air. My breath came out in puffs as I jogged down the front steps. I glanced up at the light in the upstairs window, and a smile tugged at my lips just thinking about Ruby half-naked on that bed. I’d had plenty of wild nights with women over the years, but damn, I’d never been so hungry for anyone before. I couldn’t get enough of her.

  I drove to the twenty-four-hour pharmacy, but with each mile, the blood flow started making its way back up to my brain, and my mind wandered back to Ruby’s vision. If it was a ritual, had they picked her because she’d be the leader of the Coven of Light? If they needed the blood of the high priestess, taking Lillian now before the transfer of power seemed easier. She was older. She’d be less likely to put up much of a struggle.

  But if it wasn’t because of Ruby’s position in the coven, then why choose her?

  I parked and walked into an invisible wall of heat as the glass doors slid open. I crossed the aisles until I found the one I needed while my mind chewed on the vision. Could it somehow be related to the PI who had been tailing her tonight? It couldn’t have been a coincidence that a law firm had sent him out to locate Ruby. But if it was connected, who would’ve hired him?

  The ones who cut Ruby’s throat in the vision.

  Just thinking it had my wolf growling in the depths of my soul. She was ours. And we’d die before we let anyone hurt her.

  I made my way down the aisle of razors and shaving cream. At the end of the row, I snagged a pack of condoms from the rack and then headed for the cash register. I paid and walked back to my truck, still piecing things together.

  What reason could the people have had to pick Ruby? She wasn’t one of those powerful Elemental Witches she’d told me about, and I’d already crossed off needing the high priestess because Lillian would’ve been an easier target.

  Then, as I started my truck, Mathias’s words whispered through my memory.

  Lillian saw you with cubs in her scrying mirror.

  What if the ones searching for Ruby could use a scrying mirror to see the future, too? Maybe there was a reason they needed Ruby that the rest of us couldn’t see yet.

  When I got back to Ruby’s place, my spot on the street was taken, but I found another on the other side. I parked and killed the engine, then raked both hands back through my hair. Enough thinking. I clenched my jaw, struggling to quiet my mind.

  Across the street, the light was still on in Ruby’s bedroom. She was waiting for me. No pack and no coven tonight. Just us. I grabbed the condoms and got out. It wasn’t until I got up the steps that I realized a flaw in my plan. I’d locked the doorknob when I’d left.

  I cursed under my breath and knocked. Nate erupted in a bout of ferocious barking. I attempted to soothe him through the door, but he wasn’t having it. Ruby had a ten-pound hellhound.

  Even through the door, I had no trouble hearing the creak of the stairs as Ruby came down. Then the lock turned and my beautiful mate opened the door wearing the robe she’d tried to put on me earlier.

  She smiled up at me. Her lips were still flushed and swollen from my kisses. “Locked yourself out?”

  I nodded. “To be fair, other parts of me were doing all the thinking when I left.”

  She laughed, and if felt almost as amazing as making her come. Seeing her happy, and knowing it was because of me, was a magic I’d never realized I’d been missing in my life. She stepped back and let me in, then locked the door behind me.

  I caught her in my arms and kissed her, whispering against her lips, “That robe looks better on you than me.”

  Her teeth grazed my lower lip as she smiled. “Wait ’til you see what I have underneath it.”

  I arched a brow. “Is it wrong to hope you’re naked under there?”

  She shrugged, the teeth catching her lower lip. “Could be.”

  I grinned. “Are you teasing me?”

  “Who, me?” She tugged the fluffy lapels and gave me bedroom eyes that had me hard all over again.

  I grinned, bent my knees, and tossed her over my shoulder in one fluid movement. She squeaked and wriggled. “Put me down.”

  “Not until I can take that robe off.” I headed for the stairs as she slapped my ass. I gave hers a swat in answer, and her wriggling slowed to a writhe that had me about to burst through my zipper.

  I brought her back to her bedroom and kicked the door closed behind me. I sat on the edge of the bed and lowered her onto my lap. “Show me.”

  She got up and flipped her long hair down her back. She gripped the belt tied around her waist, worrying her lower lip. “Take off your clothes first.”

  She didn’t need to ask me twice. I stood up, my gaze locked on hers as I tugged my shirt over my head and tossed it aside. Then I kicked off my shoes and unfastened my jeans. I didn’t take my eyes off her face until I stepped out of my jeans.

  When I straightened to stand again, her attention wandered down my body. I waited until she met my eyes again and growled, “Show me.”

  She wet her lips as she unknotted the robe. It slid off her shoulders and pooled on the floor around her ankles. I drank in the sight of her completely naked body, no sign of the skirt I’d worked around earlier. Her nipples were tight in the cool air, ripe to be licked. The curves of her body had me aching to touch and taste and explore until I knew every spot that gave her pleasure.

  I reached for her hand and brought her over to me. I ran my other hand down the back of her hair. “You’re so beautiful.”

  Her lips parted slightly. “Did you get the condoms?”

  I’d forgotten all about them. “Yeah.” I bent down and grabbed my pants. I took the box out of the pocket and held it up. “I did.” I opened the box and put a foil-wrapped disk on the nightstand. “But I don’t need it yet.”

  She raised a brow. “No?”

  “No.” I grinned as I walked her backward. When she bumped into the bed, she sat on the edge and I nudged her thighs apart. “I’m not done worshipping you yet.”

  I kissed her long and slow before dragging my lips down her neck. Even the taste of her skin intoxicated me. I kneaded her breasts, lifting them so I could lick one nipple and then the other. I sucked one into my mouth, and her fingers slid into my hair, clutching me to her as she arched into me. Her hips writhed at the edge of the bed, hungry for attention.

  And I wanted to give her everything. I wanted her to scream my name, and then I wanted to…claim her as mine. The animalistic instinct lingered close to the surface of my consciousness as I knelt before her, pressing hot kisses down her body. Her scent made me ache to bury myself inside her and lose myself completely.

  Taking this slowly was going to kill me.