Chapter Ten

  I did it!

  Heart racing, Bailey couldn’t believe her audacity. She’d proposed an affair and he’d accepted. It was everything she wanted. Why then was there a lingering sensation of being let down?

  It was impossible to think with his tongue stroking hers. He tasted better than cake. That was sweet and light. He was more like dark chocolate—rich and decadent with a hint of bitterness to make it interesting.

  The moss at her back was soft and welcoming. By contrast, Nicholas was hard and unyielding, his big body covering hers. He rested most of his weight on his forearms, but he let enough of it sit on her so she would be aware of him.

  As if it was possible to forget.

  He ground his hips against hers, the heavy bulge in his jeans rubbing against her core. Her panties were damp, the emptiness inside her longing to be filled.

  He hadn’t spoken since they’d left the forge. Neither of them had. The time for words had passed.

  She shoved her hands under his shirt, finding hard, hot skin. With a growl, he reared back and yanked the garment over his head. Instead of tossing it aside, he shoved it under her head as a makeshift pillow. His masculine scent rose around her. She wanted to turn her head into his shirt and rub her face all over it, but the bare chest he’d exposed was too tempting to ignore.

  Releasing a rumbling growl, she ran her hands over the sculpted planes. There was the lightest dusting of hair in the center. When she grazed one of his flat nipples with her thumb, his biceps tightened and he hissed out a breath. She skimmed her palms down his abs, loving how they clenched beneath her touch.

  His eyes were glowing; his face was carved from stone. Any other male wolf and she’d be afraid. Any other male wolf and she wouldn’t be in this situation. She’d never have trusted one enough to make herself this vulnerable.

  The ring on her finger glinted in the moonlight. An owl hooted. A small animal scuttled in the nearby underbrush. There were no voices, no artificial light, and no signs of civilization. They were alone in the wilderness.

  She’d never been more alive.

  He sat back and drew her shirt over her head. Her bra was plain white, her breasts average. Groaning, he lowered his head and nuzzled the cotton fabric, dragging his tongue over the hard nubs trying to poke through.

  Her nails dug into his biceps. Her legs moved restlessly. Bailey wanted to beg him to hurry, but she didn’t want to break the perfection of the silence.

  He slipped his hand beneath her and found the hooks. The bra loosened and was pulled away. The expression on his face was one of awe, etched with a deep need that reached inside and plucked at her heartstrings.

  “Nicholas.” His big body shuddered. His mouth slammed down on hers, swallowing whatever she might have said. Tongues tangled and passion rose. She clawed at his back, arching up and rubbing her breasts against his chest.

  On a groan, he left a trail of hot kisses across her jaw and down her neck. Her nipples puckered even tighter when his hot breath fanned over them. It wasn’t enough. Grabbing a handful of his hair, she dragged him closer.

  “Yes,” she groaned, as his teeth scraped over the sensitive flesh. The tip of his tongue flicked the sensitive bud. His hand covered her other breast, his fingers teasing and playing with the tip.

  She bucked against him, releasing his hair and grabbing his perfect ass. Her breathing was frantic, her need for him out of control. She’d wanted men before, had made love to a boy in her hometown before her old life had fallen apart, but nothing had ever come close to this experience.

  It was out of control, terrifying, and exhilarating. Greedily, she took, wanting more, wanting it all.

  He dragged his tongue along the flat of her stomach, working his way down her body. When he didn’t move fast enough, she undid her jeans and began to wiggle out of them. His growl raised the fine hairs on her arms but didn’t slow her down.

  He helped her, pulling off her shoes and socks, peeling her jeans and underwear off. Gloriously naked, she raised her hands over her head and arched her back. Her entire body glowed with perspiration, heat pumping off her skin. Alive and totally at home in her own skin, she embraced the sexual side of her nature.

  Nicholas lowered his zipper and his cock popped out. It was thick and long and roped with dark veins. He went commando, no underwear to contain him. Humming with pleasure, she took him in hand. The heat and the throbbing of his shaft pulsed through her. His lungs expanded and contracted as he sucked in a huge breath.

  A sense of power—of rightness—flowed through her as she pumped her hand up and down his shaft. On his knees before her, his head tilted back to expose the thick column of his neck, he looked like a pagan sacrifice, willingly offering himself.

  A huge shudder wracked his body. With a low growl, he pounced. Burying his face between her legs, he feasted. No man had ever gone down on her before. It was a revelation. There was no part of her left unexplored. He used tongue and lips to taste and tease. Unerringly, he found the nub of nerves at the apex of her thighs and sucked on it.

  She threw her forearm over her mouth to silence the scream. Balanced on the sharp edge of desire, she jerked her hips, needing something to push her over. Panting hard, she gripped his head, rolled her hips. Seeking. Searching.

  A thick finger plunged into her core.

  Her thighs trembled. Her heart was about to burst from her chest. Everything inside her stilled for a single second before exploding. Her lower body jerking, he continued to play with her clit, milking every last ounce of pleasure from the mind-blowing orgasm rocking her.

  He added a second finger, stretching her, curling them inward as he withdrew, stroking the most wondrous spot that sent her off on another spasm.

  Her pulse pounded in her ears, blocking all other sound. Every muscle went limp. She slumped against the ground, her lungs aching as she struggled to pull air into them.

  Holy hell! She blinked, her vision coming back online after being temporarily blinded by passion. Big and unyielding, Nicholas knelt before her and licked his lips, the corners of his mouth turned up. He looked pleased with himself. And why wouldn’t he? He’d given her the best orgasm of her life.

  Everything inside her clenched when he licked his fingers.

  His cock jutted out from his groin. She might have come, but he was still hard. A deep yearning drowned the satisfaction of seconds before. Where there’d been contentment, now there was a throbbing emptiness.

  He wrapped his hands around her thighs and pushed them open, making a place for himself between them. The broad head of his shaft pressed against her opening. The muscles in his arms trembled. The control he was exerting over himself was enormous.

  “It’s okay,” she told him.

  The snap was almost audible. He flexed his hips and plunged inside.

  ****

  Sweet and spicy, her taste lingered on his lips. He wanted to eat her out again. Now that he’d tasted perfection, no other woman would ever do.

  Go slow. Go slow.

  He repeated the mantra, reminding himself it had been a long time for her. She was tight, two of his fingers stretching her.

  With two simple words, she destroyed his good intentions. With “It’s okay” echoing in his head, his hips flexed, driving deep, compelled by primal need.

  He gritted his teeth to keep from coming as her silky core closed around him, the inner muscles loosening and softening to accommodate him. He held still and prayed he wasn’t hurting her. She fit him like a tight glove. His balls were hard as rocks and desperately trying to climb into his body to find relief.

  It was like coming home.

  When she clamped her thighs around his hips and dug her heels into his ass, he lost it. On a roar, he pulled almost all the way out and plunged in again. The rhythm was almost punishing as he pushed himself, and her, to the brink. He clenched his teeth, wanting it to last, but lost it when she squeezed her sex around him.

  Throwing back his head, he howled, proclaiming to the inhabitants of the woods he’d claimed his mate. His orgasm blasted from his balls and out the top of his shaft. Hands hard on her hips, he held on. He’d likely leave bruises but couldn’t make himself ease up.

  The base of his cock swelled, locking him inside her. He fell forward and rolled, taking her with him so she was sprawled on top of him. She buried her face against the curve of his neck and went limp.

  All the stars in the sky didn’t come close to the brilliance of the woman in his arms. He lightly trailed his fingers up and down her back, as much to soothe her as himself.

  This had been more than sex. This had been a joining of two souls. The restlessness, the emptiness inside him was gone, banished by Bailey’s presence. He’d found his purpose in life. All he had to do was keep her.

  “You tensed up. Are you okay?” She pushed herself upright, driving his dick deeper. Thanks to his werewolf genetics, he was still hard as a rock. He could go several times without needing a recovery period.

  Her hair was damp, some of it stuck to her forehead. He smoothed it off her face. “Perfect. You?”

  “Mmm.” She wiggled and then moaned. “I’m doing great.”

  Her unrestrained pleasure dragged a chuckle out of him. “You’re better than great.” He took her left hand in his and twined their fingers together.

  She bit her lower lip. “Ah, I should have mentioned I’m not on birth control. I mean, there wasn’t a reason for me to be on it. The chances of me getting pregnant are slim to none, but Emmett and I are proof it can happen. I mean, I’m part wolf and so are you. Full wolf, I mean. And I’m babbling.” She clamped her lips shut, seeming disgruntled with herself.

  Wonder spread through him, carrying with it a gentle warmth. The idea of her growing large with his child filled him with joy.

  “I know that’s the last thing you’d want.”

  And the bubble burst. “I’d take care of you and any child.” He held her hips when she started to pull away, not ready to let her go.

  Sighing, she settled back. “You’re not responsible for me.”

  His jaw tightened. “The child would be mine, too.”

  “It’s hypothetical. The odds are against me getting pregnant, but going forward we should be careful. I have enough on my hands now.”

  His frustration cooled. She was right. If they decided to have children in the future, it would be when, or if, she was ready. “I’ll buy condoms.”

  She nodded and walked her fingers up his chest. “I guess I should get off you now.”

  He shook his head. “Damage is already done tonight. No point closing the barn door after the horse is gone.” Maybe he wasn’t being fair, but once wasn’t enough. Whether she admitted it or not, this was their wedding night. It wasn’t a mating, which was more binding than any human ceremony, but it meant the same to him.

  Wife, mate, partner, lover—Bailey was all that and more.

  “You’ve got a clever tongue on you, LaForge.”

  “I could use it on you again,” he promised.

  She shivered and clucked her tongue. “That’s not what I meant.”

  “It’s what I meant.” An idea came to him, one that would appeal to her independent nature. “You be in charge this time. You’re already on top.” He eased her up slightly and then pulled her back down. She gasped and then groaned.

  “You’re a bad influence,” she complained, even as she raised and lowered herself again. Her breasts swayed, the taut nipples an invitation.

  “I only want what’s best for you.” There was no teasing this time, only the raw truth.

  She stilled, sensing his seriousness. “I know. Thank you for all you’ve done.”

  Gratitude had no place between them, especially not tonight. “Fuck me. Take me.” Keep me, he wanted to yell. Reaching between their bodies, he found her clit and rubbed his thumb over the nub. She moaned, totally natural about her sexuality. It was a huge turn-on and somewhat of a surprise. He’d half expected her to be uptight, but she was as open with her passion as any female wolf.

  She might be a half-breed, but she was all wolf. That she could shift was a miracle, a rare feat, and a testament to her strength. He had no doubt it was sheer willpower that had brought on her first shift. She was an alpha to her core, and being able to access both human and wolf made her stronger.

  Placing her hands on his chest, she began to rock. Letting go of his thoughts and worries, he drank in her natural beauty. She was a woodland goddess, taking what was rightfully hers.

  He cupped her breasts, playing with the tips, rolling them between his fingers as she rode him. Her glorious red hair tumbled around her shoulders, a fiery halo. Her green eyes began to glow. Her skin rippled, her wolf close to the surface.

  The wildness in her called to the same inside him.

  “Nicholas,” she gasped, grinding her clit against his pelvis. The tiny flutters in her core were a sign of her impending orgasm. She kept going, becoming more frustrated with each second as she grabbed for something just out of reach.

  On a growl, he rolled so she was on her back. Shoving her legs up and out, he fucked her hard and fast. Her yell echoed in his ears. Her core squeezed his cock, dragging him over the edge with her.

  This time, he collapsed on top of her, moving enough of his upper body aside so he didn’t completely crush her. They were both gasping as though they’d run flat out for miles. The night slowly came alive again, the creatures moving around them, accepting them as a part of the landscape.

  “So, I get to be in charge? Right.” She actually gave a small snort.

  He gave a lazy shrug, too sated to worry. “Seemed like the thing to do at the time.”

  She laughed and then groaned. “I’m going to be sore tomorrow.”

  Frowning, he gritted his teeth and eased out of her, even though he was still swollen. He hated the separation. “You don’t heal quickly?” He’d never considered the differences between her and a full-blooded wolf. Just because she could shift didn’t mean she had all the same attributes.

  “Faster than a human, but it’s not instantaneous or anything. And I don’t get sick. Considering the price of healthcare, that’s a huge plus.” She put her hands on the ground and pushed herself upright. “I used muscles I haven’t in a long time.” She shot him a lighthearted grin. “Not that I’m complaining.”

  Neither was he, but he hated the idea of her hurting in any way, even if it was only minor muscle aches. “Let’s get you home.” He plucked her shirt off the ground and shook it before handing it to her. “You can soak in a hot bath.”

  “Sounds like an excellent plan. Even better if the leftover piece of cake is still in the fridge.” She pulled her top on and then her jeans before stuffing her feet into her sneakers. She grabbed her socks, underwear, and bra and stuffed them in her back pockets. “Let’s go. The kids are likely wondering where we are.”

  It wouldn’t be a secret what they’d done. They smelled of sex and each other. Even if the kids were in bed, the older ones would know.

  Slinging an arm around her shoulders, he guided her toward the path to home.

  Chapter Eleven

  Bailey groaned as she stretched. Not because anything hurt—the hot bath and a night’s sleep had taken care of her aches—but because she had to face Nicholas this morning.

  She opened her eyes and was momentarily blinded by the sunlight pouring through the window. Wow, she’d really overslept. The sunrise and she were on intimate terms. Most of her best work was done early.

  Not today.

  She dragged a pillow over her face, absently wondering if she could smother herself with it so she didn’t have to deal with the problems waiting outside her door.

  On a frustrated growl, she shoved the pillow aside and sat up. She grabbed her phone, shocked to discover it was almost noon. This was way past sleeping in.

  “Crap.” Jumping out of bed, she hurried toward her closet, tripping on a sneaker and almost going headfirst into the wall. Her clothing was strewn over the floor where she’d dropped it last night. That was so unlike her. She liked everything in its place.

  “It’s his fault,” she grumbled, not caring that she was being unfair. The day was already warm, her sleep shorts and tank stuck to her skin, so she went with the daytime version, donning jean shorts and a green tank with a built-in bra.

  She started toward the door but stopped, whirled around, and made the bed. That done, the dirty clothes went into the laundry basket. The room looked the same as it did every morning, but everything seemed different, as though it no longer fit.

  Or maybe it was her that no longer fit the space.

  Closing her eyes, she took a centering breath, then another. “I can do this.” But the pep talk fell flat. Wrapping her arms around her upper body, she hugged herself tight. She’d had sex before, but nothing had prepared her for the explosion of passion between her and Nicholas.

  Sex in the moonlight on the bare ground had seemed natural and right. What that said about her, she wasn’t sure. Might be best not to examine it too closely. She’d always been self-conscious around men. Last night, something inside her had opened up and she’d embraced it. The wildness she kept under wraps had broken loose.

  He understood her, accepted her. There was freedom in that. She hadn’t needed to maintain control or worry about giving herself away in some manner. For the first time in her life, she’d been with a man and truly been herself.

  It was partially because he was a wolf, but mostly because he was Nicholas.

  She closed her eyes and rubbed her forehead, ignoring the invisible weight of responsibility pressing down on her shoulders. All her talk of it being nothing more than sex between two healthy adults fell flat in the light of day. “You’re so stupid,” she muttered.

  What had she done? She’d connected on an emotional level. Keeping things lighthearted had been harder than she’d anticipated. She’d done one hell of an acting job. Fortunately, he’d bought it.