Authors: Savannah Stuart
his hips jerk. His cock had a mind of its own and he didn’t blame it.
Slowly, he pulled his finger out then pushed it back in. Each time he did, she rolled
her hips until they found a perfect rhythm.
She came so fast she took him off guard. Her inner walls clenched tightly as her
hips began to move faster.
“Thomas.” His name was a bare whisper on her lips.
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Hearing it tore a growl from him. His name should be the only one she ever said.
And he planned to make that happen.
Taking her clit between his teeth, he gently tugged. The action pushed her right
over the edge.
Now it wasn’t a whisper. It was more like a scream. Her orgasm rushed through
her and he could feel every quiver and tremble of her inner walls.
Her fingers tightened on his head for a moment before she fell back against the
desk, limp and satisfied.
The sight of her stretched out and naked on his desk was making it difficult for him
to keep his original goal in mind. This was about her, not him. As her chest rose and fell
and her aroused pink nipples taunted him, he was hard-pressed to remember that.
With the taste of her pleasure on his lips, he moved until he was an inch from her
face. Her green eyes were wide and her pupils dilated.
A soft smile touched her lips. “Thank you.”
He couldn’t answer. His throat was too thick. When she reached between them and
started grappling with his belt, he did something he hadn’t thought possible. He
stopped her. He might want her but he didn’t deserve to sink himself inside her. To feel
her tighten around him. No, he deserved the torment of a fucking hard-on that
wouldn’t go away.
Those perfect lips of hers parted and a frown marred her face. “What are you
doing?”
He pressed a soft kiss to her lips. “We need to get back to my place. Whoever sent
that guy is still out there.” He wasn’t worried about that but it worked as an excuse. If
someone had tried to enter his office he’d have scented them coming.
“But—”
He covered her mouth again. Stroking his tongue over hers, he invaded her mouth
until she was panting and breathless. Finally he lifted his head and quickly
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disentangled himself. After he picked up her discarded dress, he fished his phone out of
his pocket and called one of the valet guys to bring his car to the side alley. He wasn’t
going to risk taking Nissa through a crowded club after what had just happened.
As he finished his call he turned to find a dressed Nissa sitting on the edge of his
desk with a confused expression on her face. The look in her eyes told him she didn’t
believe his excuse one bit. At least she wasn’t pushing him. If she did he knew he’d toss
his restraint and self-induced torture aside and take her right on the floor.
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Nissa set her iced tea on the table that separated her from Thomas’ sister-in-law,
Carly. Her husband Nick was out patrolling the house and grounds while his
redheaded wife kept her company. The woman was sweet and surprisingly at ease
around so many supernatural beings. Thanks to Thomas, Nissa knew that she’d only
been turned less than a year ago through the mating process. “I’m sorry your friend had
to leave.”
Carly smiled and waved a dismissive hand in the air. “She’ll be back next month. I
think I’ve almost convinced her to move here.”
Nissa’s eyes widened. “And she doesn’t mind that you’re all…werewolves?”
“Ah, she doesn’t know…
yet
. I plan to tell her…one day.” Carly chewed on her
bottom lip for a moment. “Eventually I’ll have to or she’ll realize I’m aging a lot slower.
I don’t know how she’ll take it. Some days
I
still don’t believe it. If it hadn’t been for
Nick I don’t know that I’d have handled the transition so well.”
Having a supportive mate made all the difference in the world. Something she’d
never get to experience. Nissa shoved the abrupt thought away. Dwelling on something
that could never be was a waste of time. And if she allowed herself to think about it, the
hole in her heart she’d patched up long ago would rip right back open. Before she could
respond Nick appeared from around the side of the house.
The tall, multi-tattooed shifter nodded politely at her but when his gaze landed on
his mate, his entire face softened. “Hey, sweetie.”
Carly’s cheeks flushed as their gazes clashed and Nissa had to look away. Seeing
two people so in love was another reminder of what she’d never have. It didn’t matter
who she ended up mated to. That person wouldn’t be Thomas. Maybe she’d eventually
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learn to care for her intended husband but it wouldn’t matter. Swallowing back a lump,
she stood. “If you guys don’t mind I think I’m going to take a quick nap.”
Carly eyed her curiously. “Are you sure? I was about to make lunch.”
Not trusting her voice, she nodded and strode inside. All morning Thomas’ family
had been stopping by to keep an eye on her and some just to meet her. Though he
hadn’t told her what it was about, he’d had to take care of some business with his
father. He’d certainly made sure she was looked after though. Something that didn’t
surprise her.
As she hurried up the stairs, she found it easier to breathe. After the hot interlude in
Thomas’ office last night he’d been quiet and hadn’t pressured her to share his bedroom
again. The disappointment she’d experienced was sharp.
Even though she knew the memories would torture her later she wanted to feel him
inside her just one more time. When she passed by his room, she paused. His door was
cracked open and his sandalwood scent twined around her, drawing her inside. She
might not have his extrasensory abilities but his whole house smelled like him. It was
subtle and it drove her crazy. Even when he wasn’t around, it felt like he was.
Nissa glanced behind her to make sure no one was there then nudged the door
open farther with her foot. Pushing back the tiny twinge of guilt, she stepped into his
room. Since the two large windows facing the ocean had the blinds pulled up she didn’t
bother with the lights.
Instantly her gaze trained on the king-sized bed. She couldn’t stop the way her legs
clenched together at the sight. The thought of letting him take her on that huge thing
sent a quick rush of heat to her pussy.
Shaking her head, she took a step back, ready to leave, when the painting above his
bed caught her eye.
She froze.
How did he have this? How had he known?
Tears pricked her eyes. Turning
away she started to wipe them from her cheeks but jerked to a halt.
Thomas stood in the doorway.
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She flushed under his scrutiny. “I-I’m sorry. I was curious what your room looked
like.”
He frowned and covered the small distance between them. With calloused thumbs,
he brushed away her tears. “Why are you crying? Did someone upset you?” The second
question held a surprising amount of underlying anger.
She shook her head and half smiled. “I was surprised by the painting, that’s all. I
can’t believe you have it. No one, not even my mother knows I paint.” Annoyed with
herself, she swiped the rest of her tears away. “I can’t believe I started crying. I’m just
being stupid.”
Thomas’ brow knitted together. “
You
painted that?”
Her tears dried as his question registered. “You didn’t know?”
He shook his head and his gaze trailed past hers to stare at it. For a moment, his
eyes glazed over. “I bought it because it reminded me of you. Of us.” His words were
barely audible.
The scene was a simple one. A villa right on the sparkling Med with a black wolf
playing in the sand. Maybe playing was a stretch, but the animal lounged on the beach,
soaking up the bright sun. Using oils—her favorite medium—she’d painted it with
him
in mind. It had taken forever to get the mixed blues and greens of the Mediterranean
Sea correct. Known for its deep hues, she’d struggled with so many drafts but it had
been worth it in the end. In her mind it had been the last time they’d been happy
together and she’d put all her effort and soul into capturing that moment on canvas.
To her horror, more tears pricked her eyes. This time it wasn’t just a few stray ones.
Giant drops rolled down her cheeks with abandon. Though she ordered herself to get it
together, it was a fruitless endeavor. She tensed and quickly headed for the door.
Letting him see her cry this way was the last thing she wanted. He was still looking at
that damn painting anyway. She should have burned it. Seeing it only brought her
more sorrow. After she’d sold it she’d never thought to see it again. It was amazing he
owned it now.
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“Nissa.” His hand on her upper arm stopped her.
Keeping her gaze low, she refused to make eye contact. “What?”
He gripped her chin between strong fingers and lifted her head. Not hard, but with
enough pressure to make her look at him. The expression in his dark eyes was so
concerned it sent a tiny crack through the ice surrounding her heart.
Slowly Thomas leaned forward and brushed his lips over one cheek, then the other.
As he kissed away her tears she had to fight back more of them. Why did he have to be
so sweet, so gentle? She’d known she’d find protection with him but time should have
buried or at least dimmed their attraction.
He started to step back but something primal inside her didn’t want that to happen.
Reaching out, she placed a hand on his chest. When he just stared at her she traced her
fingers down the hard length of his body, feeling all those taut, lean lines until she
reached the hem of his polo shirt. She started to grasp it with the intention of pulling it
off him but he tried to stop her.
She frowned. “So you can touch me but I can’t touch you?”
“I didn’t say that.” His voice was strained.
“You didn’t have to.” She still held on to the bottom of his shirt. When he didn’t let
go, her frown deepened. “My first night here you wanted me in your bed. Has that
changed?”
He swallowed hard but didn’t respond. That just annoyed her. He’d been all about
this but now that she was offering he was acting like a mute. She swiveled away from
him but instead of leaving, she shut the door and turned back to confront him.
His eyebrows rose slightly. Without giving him time to question her, she grasped
the edge of her dress and lifted it over her head. The halter-style summer dress dropped
to the floor almost soundlessly. Since she’d arrived in Miami she hadn’t worn a bra
much. To torture him or herself, she wasn’t sure.
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Slowly, she reached up and cupped her naked breasts. His breath hitched and his
gaze narrowed on her hands cradling herself.
As he stared, he looked mesmerized. And the huge bulge in his slacks made her
smile. She liked that she affected him so obviously.
“What are you doing?” he rasped out.
“If you have to ask…” Simultaneously, she rubbed her thumbs over her hardening
nipples.
He tore his gaze away from her movements and focused on her face. “What…”
“I want you inside me.” The invitation couldn’t get any more blatant than that.
The movement was slight, but he shook his head. “I don’t deserve you.”
Sighing at his stupid comment, she slid her hands down her sides, over her waist,
and moved to her hips. In a smooth movement, she pushed her thong down until it
pooled around her ankles then kicked it away. If he wouldn’t take charge of this, she
would. “Take off your clothes.”
He shuddered slightly, no doubt at the command in her voice. Her pussy ached so
bad for him, she didn’t care about much else other than feeling his hard length push
deep into her. When he didn’t make a move, she wielded a tiny amount of energy and
zapped his shirt. It quickly disintegrated.
“Shit.” Thomas ran a hand down his washboard stomach and her mouth watered.
“I forgot you could do that,” he muttered.
Instead of responding, she headed for his bed. “If you don’t hurry, I’m going to
start without you.”
As she tried to move past him, he grabbed her by the waist and pulled her tight
against him. Without pause she clutched his shoulders and lifted up, wrapping her legs
around him. The feel of all that raw power and muscle between her legs made her
moan. A man didn’t have a right to be so toned.
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His hands slid down her back until he cupped her behind. Clutching her tightly, he
dug his fingers into her cheeks.
Thomas fought to breathe with Nissa’s breasts pressed up against his bare chest.
He’d tasted and licked them the past couple days but to feel them was heaven. A small
part of him wanted to stop this. She deserved a hell of a lot more than him but he was
selfish. Once she’d stripped off her dress and bared herself completely to him, he’d
known he was lost.
Her desire for him was still as potent as before. The fact that she’d taken this step
without any pressure from him meant they had a chance together.