Authors: Vivian Arend
Tags: #Paranormal Romance, #Fiction, #Romance, #Paranormal, #Suspense
Now they were two individuals—one step away from joining their lives forever.
The only sound was the song on the radio. Soulful, yearning.
He smiled up at her as he stroked her jaw with the back of his finger. “My mate.”
My. Mine
. The word thrilled her and scared her silly. Predestiny was the norm amongst wolves, but no one had told her how heart-stoppingly fragile facing this moment would make her feel.
One heartbeat passed.
Another.
Gem moved forward, Shaun thrust up, and the two of them connected forcibly. Mating heat danced around them like an exotic pied piper.
Instantly, she froze. The width of his erection stretched her, changed the ache of need into something midway between pleasure and pain. Similar to the nips and the bites he’d given, and she wasn’t sure if she could survive if tonight got any better.
“Oh, Shaun.” She leaned forward to kiss him. He lifted his head eagerly to allow his mouth to meet hers. The controlling grip on her hips loosened as he stroked her gently, fingertips soothing her. He tasted wild. There was raw energy in his kiss, the hint of a sweet aftertaste that made her smile against his lips.
The measured exploration of his hands continued as he slipped them farther up her torso to cup her breasts. Pulling in a breath of air from his mouth seemed the only way to get any oxygen. His palms were hot against her skin, the tender touch helping her relax. Slow smooth circles, teasing flicks over her nipples.
The distraction on her breasts let her almost forget there was an extremely large section of his body currently in residence inside her.
Almost, but not possible.
37
Vivian Arend
Any pain she’d experienced was gone, replaced with the urgent desire to use him like a pogo stick.
Gem tightened her thighs, lifted herself and moaned at how incredible it felt, the consuming rub that started deep and rose to the sensitive edge of her sex in line with the crown of his shaft.
“Sweet Gem. That’s so good.” Shaun’s head thumped back on the pillow, his one arm thrown over his eyes, the other hand caressing her body. “I’m dying. I’m really and truly dying.” She rode him another time, the smooth stroke sparking energies inside her that wanted to break free.
“You’d better not die. Other than your name, Shaun Stevens, I don’t know anything about you.” His arm fell away, and the brilliant white of his smile hit her full force as she drove herself down harder. “I’m a wolf, you’re a wolf. We’re mates. That’s all we need to know.” Mates. Another plunge.
Mates
. Together. This was really happening.
“She’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”
Gem froze—sex forgotten. Well, kind of forgotten. It was difficult to completely ignore the fully erect penis in her passage, and that all manner of incredible hormonal things were happening because of that fact.
And when Shaun took over and lifted his hips, increasing the pace between them again, Gem was the one to moan her approval in spite of having something to say.
“I heard you…in my head… Oh, Shaun…”
He didn’t acknowledge her, the sheer bliss on his face enough to make her put the discussion aside and come back to what she was doing.
What they were doing.
Shaun smoothed his hands up her thighs, dipping his fingers between her legs to find the sensitive tip of her clitoris. He rubbed, and that was game over. Like pressing an ignition switch, the explosion was immediate and full body. Waves crashed upward, skimming her skin like a flash fire. Gem cried out and savoured the sensation.
Then he rolled her again, rising over her and taking total control. Thrusting into her, forcefully, madly. Each piston of his hips pressed her back to the bed. Gem wrapped her legs around him and canted her pelvis, a little scream escaping as he went deeper on the next motion. The climax that had started earlier went on and on, peaking higher and higher on each breath like consecutive firework bursts, each one more spectacular than the one before.
“Holy hell, Gem.” Shaun slammed in once more and stilled. She felt every jerk intimately. Each hard pulse within her as her sheath squeezed him tight, wringing another cry from his lips.
Shaun lowered himself to lie skin to skin on top of her. The slow weight increase made her smile, a tender moment of complete satisfaction and delight all tangled up in the sated sexual bliss cocooning her body.
38
Black Gold
She had a mate. Incredible. Not just the sex, although that had been fairly spectacular to start with, but the realization she now had someone else in her life to love and care for. Gem traced her fingers over his back, the heat of having him close so right and proper.
A soft kiss landed on her lips, then he nuzzled her cheek. He dropped his full weight beside her and rolled them just enough that when he snored a moment later, Gem giggled then curled up tight to his side, joining him in sleep.
39
Chapter Five
Caroline parked in her usual slot, right next to Evan’s shiny red Hummer. She wasn’t scheduled to work today, but this would be one of her only chances to catch the Alpha alone. The morning sunshine seemed to taunt her as she pulled her courage in and forced herself out the door toward the entrance to his suite.
Even knowing Evan Stone wasn’t likely to hurt her, butterflies of fear still insisted on tangoing in her belly. What she was about to propose was extremely unusual—she knew that—but desperate measures were occasionally needed.
She squared her shoulders and knocked.
His footsteps sounded on the hardwood floor, and she pictured his approach with ease. She was the one who’d arranged for the renovations to the suite after he took over from their old Alpha. He was turning the corner, just about there…
“Caroline?” Evan opened the door and she caught an eyeful of rather spectacular masculinity. The jeans covering his lower body were nice, but it was the wolf genes he wore up top that made her libido jolt—his naked chest was oh-so-distracting.
It took a lot of self-control to concentrate enough to offer a smile. “Hey.” He looked her up and down slowly. Glanced over her shoulder. “Something wrong at the hotel I need to know about?”
She shook her head. “No, nothing. Everything’s fine. I mean, things were fine when I left last night, and I didn’t stop in yet this morning. I’m not on shift until tomorrow, to be honest, but I’m sure everything is going great.”
Evan waited. Caroline bit her lip. She’d been rambling. That wasn’t good. Wolves didn’t like rambling. Straightforward, no nonsense. That had been her plan, but she always turned into a babbling fool when she got nervous.
Nervous
. Shit—he could probably smell her anxiety. Damn wolf senses.
He stepped back, gesturing her forward. “You want to come in.” She was past him before she realized what he’d said. Caroline twirled to spot him sporting an ear-to-ear grin. “You already know why I’m here.”
Evan closed the door behind them and laughed. “Caro, trust me. Of all the surprises thrown my way since becoming Alpha for the Takhini pack,
you
are the most interesting.”
Black Gold
She followed him into the kitchen where she took a deep appreciative breath of the scent of coffee filling the room. Without thinking, she grabbed the coffeepot and two mugs, and prepped them both drinks.
“What makes you say that?”
Evan tilted his head toward her. “Honey, you’re the only human I know who would knock on my door at six a.m., walk in and make herself at home.”
She paused. “Oh. Sorry.”
He gestured for her to carry on. “I don’t mind. Come on, let me know what’s got you in such a tizzy this early.”
She finished her task, passing him his mug. He’d found a T-shirt while she’d been working, and had covered up.
Damn it anyway.
The main living space was decorated with dark cushions scattered on thick log furniture. She’d had a blast putting the place together for him. The extra-wide windows faced the Yukon River, the curve to the left leading to the dry-docked
SS Klondike
. Only a few remaining pieces of ice clung to the edges of the river, and spring was well on its way.
Caroline turned from the view and grabbed a seat in one of the single chairs. Straight out with it—
after all those years around her stepfather, you’d think she had this talking-to-wolves business down pat. “I have a proposition.”
He sprawled on the couch, a contented smile breaking across his face as he took a large gulp of his coffee. “God, that is so good. How do you consistently make a perfect cup? Half the time my coffee tastes like dirt.”
“You pour to the dregs and get all the excess grounds. You need to stop and leave a little in the pot.” She watched his throat as he swallowed. “I want to move in with you.” Evan jolted upright, choking on his mouthful. She sat patiently, waiting until he calmed down.
Except, every time he looked her direction, the coughing began again until she got pissed off. Placing her mug on the table, she stood, fists landing on her hips. “Fine. You don’t have to spell it out. That’s a no.” Before she’d reached the door he was there, blocking her path, his breathing still shaky. “You want to back this train up a few stations? I’m not saying no. I’m not saying yes. I’m saying what the hell kind of question is that?”
Caroline stared at the wall. “Was that too blunt? Johnny always told me to simply spit it out, that wolves liked the straightforward approach.”
“Johnny. That’s your stepdad, right?”
She nodded.
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Vivian Arend
Evan wrapped an arm around her shoulder and led her back to the living room, sitting next to her.
This time he handed over her cup, motioning for her to drink. “Go on. Take a sip. We’re not going anywhere until we get this figured out.”
Caffeine was an utter necessity at this point, to get through the rest of the conversation. Evan reached past her and nabbed his own mug, his thigh pressing tight to hers. There was no way to hide her instant physical response, but she knew from their history he would simply ignore the way she heated up whenever he was near.
He was used to it, and frankly, she planned on making the undeniable attraction work in both their favours. She wasn’t in love with him. Had no ideas of forever and all that kind of thing where Evan was concerned. The fact her secret agenda would be served nicely by getting a taste or five of his wolfish charms was a bonus in the scheme.
Guilt-free offers that helped both sides were always the best way to go.
They sat quietly and drank for a moment before Caroline deemed herself ready to try again. She placed her cup down and laughed when he copied her.
“Sorry, protective measures.” Evan turned to face her. “Now. Seriously. Are you getting kicked out of your apartment and need a place to crash for a while?”
“No. I need to move in to stop the local women from tearing the town apart trying to get your attention.”
His brow rose in the air. “You want to shack up for my sake?” She nodded.
“But…you’re not a wolf.”
“I know. So you don’t have to worry that I’m trying to do what all those other females are doing.
Trying to get ahead in the wolf priority list.”
Evan looked confused. “But you’re not a wolf.”
“Don’t be stupid. I know that. Trust me, I got reminded of that often over the years by the rest of the pack every time they came around the house. Johnny was strong enough to fend them off until I learned to deal with them myself.”
He leaned back and crossed his arms, Mr. Sexy in full view. “Well, sweetie, Johnny may have been right about shooting straight with wolves, but there are a few special circumstances when it’s perfectly fine to explain yourself. In complete and utter detail.”
“When would that be?”
Evan tweaked her nose. “When I can’t understand what the hell you’re proposing. I mean, I got the
‘you move in with me’ bit, but how will it help me having a human in my house?” 42
Black Gold
Caroline sighed. “The power plays are a constant thing, Evan. Add in the fact you’re single, a looker, and a touch on the wild side, the ladies of the pack without boyfriends, and some with, are always trying to hit on you.”
“I noticed. Why is that a problem for anyone but me?”
She pulled a face. “Okay. Take last night. I’m going to assume whatever happened in the bar was somehow related to the
woowoo
thing you guys do.”
His grin got wider. “
Woowoo
. Nicely put. Is that the scientific word, or something we’re still trying on for size?”
She ignored him. It was the only way to make this conversation go anywhere before she needed to drag in reinforcements.
“In the old days I had to come up with logical explanations for weird wolf shit happening around the hotel and bar maybe once or twice a month. And nine times out of ten the incidents were caused by visitors to the area—the usual gangly teens not able to control a shift, or thinking it would be hysterical to go for a swim in the pool in their wolf forms.” Evan snickered, and she smacked him on the arm. “Laugh it up, big boy, but after a while trying to cover your asses and keep the shifters undercover is a royal pain. I like my job, and I like the pack. I don’t like being your nursemaid.”
“Sorry.” He looked contrite enough, but his smile didn’t diminish. “I was remembering the story they told me about you announcing there was a meeting for the Iditarod and some of the teams had gotten loose.
That’s why crowds of ‘dogs’ were swarming the halls.”
Caroline sniffed. “That was one of my better moments of inspiration.” She stood and carried their empty cups to the kitchen, rinsing them and putting them in the dishwasher. When she stood, Evan was right there at her side.
“You didn’t finish your explanation.”
She leaned back on the island. “Think about it. Since you took over as Alpha, there have been more and more incidents. It’s not once in a while anymore, it’s weekly, if not daily. And the troubles are always related to a female panting over you in some shape or form. I realize jostling for position is normal for wolves, but it’s a pain in the ass. As a human, I have no designs on your pack or being something big shot in the hierarchy. But with my background, I know enough about wolves to hold my own and keep the bitches off your back. At least until you tell me you’ve found someone you’re interested in—I won’t get pissed off if you announce it’s over. I understand the whole mate thing.” Evan nodded slowly. “Makes sense. I’ll think about your offer.” Caroline couldn’t stop the little thrill of excitement that hit. “I can wait. Just try to decide before I have to explain a wolf fight in the front lobby, okay?”