Wild (42 page)

“This dance is over,” she said abruptly, slipping from between them and making her way across the room.

For a moment Malec stood staring after her, watching as she headed toward the ladies' room. She couldn't walk away. She could not deny him. Not this, not when he knew damned well that she wanted it. But when he took a step to go after her Channing grabbed his arm.

“Let me guess,” Channing said with an arch of his brow. “That's Caroline.”

Malec looked at him, saw everything the beta was thinking in his eyes, and continued.

“That's the one I want for tonight,” he told Channing.

Channing nodded, certain he'd already known those words were coming. “Then I'll go talk to her. See if she's game.”

“No,” Malec replied adamantly. “I'll do it.”

For a second Channing looked confused. Malec understood why. Channing was the talker, the charmer. He got their permission, and he handled the aftercare. It was his personality to take care of people, and he did it so well. When they'd begun sharing women, it was a given that this was what he'd do.

Yet this time Malec wanted to try.

“That's not how we work,” Channing reminded him. “What if you frighten her?”

“I won't frighten her, dammit! I'm not a monster, and I know how to talk to a woman,” Malec replied emphatically through gritted teeth. Channing continued to stare in question, a look that was really beginning to piss Malec off.

“You sure about that, buddy?” Channing asked with a knowing smirk, his grip still on Malec's arm.

Malec inhaled deeply, releasing the breath slowly. The tension was real, the need pressing against him like hundreds of boulders, until every part of him ached. “I've got this,” he told Channing. “Just be ready.”

Channing hesitated only a moment longer before giving a shrug of his shoulders and stepping to the side. Malec crossed the room not giving a damn about the people who stared at him now. With long, purposeful strides he entered that dark hallway, stopping just short of the ladies' room door where she was about to enter. She stopped as well, as if she'd known he would follow her, and then turned around to face him.

There was no hesitation and no invitation, but Malec stepped forward, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her close once more. He cupped a hand over her breast and lowered his head.

And then he kissed her.

Mouth open, tongue delving deep to tangle with hers. He fell into the kiss instantly, ignoring that warning bell that sounded resolutely through his mind, screaming at him to remember one of his golden rules where women were concerned: absolutely no kissing.

*   *   *

Caroline felt like she'd boarded a roller coaster, expecting a fast and exhilarating ride, but was experiencing quick twists and turns and finally a steep downward drop that left her breathless and aroused as hell.

Malec was kissing her as if she were the next-best thing to breathing. He was palming her breasts similar to the way he had at the clinic, and he was holding her tightly against him, silently telling her she had no chance of getting away.

Strange thing was, she did not want to get away from him. That was the first thing Caroline thought as she opened herself to his kiss, wrapping her arms around his neck to pull him down closer. He smelled like fine wine tasted, delectable. He felt like every erotic dream she'd ever had all rolled into one. There was no doubt he would know how to stroke her, to touch her, taste her until she came strong and hard enough to last for a thousand years. He was that type of guy.

But he hadn't been alone.

He'd said “we,” and there had been another guy's dick pressed up against her ass. Forget the arousal she'd felt at that moment, and now, for that matter. What mattered most was the realization that came barreling into her mind like a ferocious storm.

This man was going to make her lose everything she'd worked so hard to this point to get.

Blackbriar was Caroline's second chance. It was the place where no one knew about her or the affair she'd had with Brent, the very married and eventually confessed gay doctor at the previous animal hospital she'd worked at. That scandal had erupted and exploded with a devastating ferocity back in Portland. She'd not only lost her job, but her friends and a good chunk of her savings that she'd had to spend paying the attorney. Brent's wife had filed a lawsuit against her for the pain and suffering her sordid affair—coupled with the illicit pictures of her and Brent that were revealed—had caused. It was a nightmare, and Caroline had spent the last year of her life figuring out where to go and how best to move on and to find another place to belong and to fit in.

This was all too familiar for Caroline.

So regardless of how good he felt and how much she wanted to continue this little tryst, she would not … unless it was on her terms.

A quick glimpse at the second guy as she'd turned to leave gave her a snapshot of a tall, slimly built man with his own measure of muscles and eyes that for just an instant had beckoned to her. His gaze had been intense and, as she recalled the feel of his hard length against her backside, hers had faltered.

Caroline pulled back from Malec at that moment, letting her hands fall to her sides as she looked away. He was still holding her, still rubbing his finger over her hardened nipple, which was damned distracting as she tried to get her thoughts together. This wasn't what she wanted—even though her body was definitely sending other more agreeable messages. Giving into these urges was dangerous. It could destroy her in the end; she knew that without any doubt and had sworn to be smarter the next time—
this
time.

“I'm not into that,” she said with finality.

“Into what?” he asked. “Pleasure?”

Her head snapped up as she met his gaze.

“Kinky and socially unacceptable acquaintances that could cost me my job. Been there and done that,” she quipped. “Don't care to do it again.”

“But you want to,” Malec said as if he heard her, but heard something else as well. “You want every bit of pleasure we can give you.”

“What can
you
give me, Mr. Zenta?” she asked in response, shocking even herself when she reached forward and cupped his thick erection. He obviously wanted her, and he was right, she did want him. So why couldn't it just go that way? Why did it have to involve more? A quick and potent bolt of desire shot straight to her clit at that thought, and Caroline bit her bottom lip to keep from crying out.

Warmth immediately spread through her palm, her pussy creaming as if she'd pressed some magic button granting permission.

“That and then some,” was his confident response.

“Then let's go,” Caroline offered. “You and me. My place is just a few minutes from here.”

“Great,” said the smooth and sexy-as-hell voice from behind. “The sooner we get there, the sooner I can make you scream.”

She didn't feel him pressing against her this time, but he was still close. His hands rubbed up her thighs, lifting her skirt with the motion. The skirt was tight, a very thick Lycra material that smoothed all her curves and gave her a neat and voluptuous look. And her ass was round enough to make lifting that skirt all the way up just a little more difficult than anyone could anticipate.

Caroline was very thankful for that at the moment.

Or was she?

His hands felt just as good as Malec's had. Even if she wanted to ignore that thought, the quick shake of her thighs was a dead giveaway. And he smelled good. His cologne mixing with the very masculine scent that permeated from Malec.

Yes, Malec.

She looked up at him then, saw that his eyes had grown even darker, his fingers toying with her nipple piercings.

“You like his hands on you too,” he said to her, his voice going lower, deeper. “His hands and my hands equal nothing but pleasure, Caroline. Exquisite and undeniable pleasure. That's what you deserve. It's what you want.”

“No,” she said in what sounded like the weakest voice she'd ever heard in her life. “It's not.”

She was shaking her head, even as the one behind her slipped his hands around to touch the inside of her thighs. Either she'd backed up or he'd stepped forward, but she could feel his arousal once again. Hard and long, rubbing against the slit of her bottom, giving her the urge to bend over and let him inside. Caroline shook her head again, harder this time.

She swallowed, closed her eyes, and opened them again.

“Malec.”

Hell, even whispering his name was arousing her, as she imagined saying it while he was deep inside of her, riding her until all she could think about was that pleasure he'd promised. Her hand had slipped away from his dick, but her palms were warm as she recalled feeling the hardness there.

“I can't,” she said. “Please.”

Malec paused, his features freezing, passion locked in his gaze even as a muscle twitched in his jaw.

It occurred to Caroline at this very moment that no matter how hard she tried, she always seemed to end up in the same predicament. It was the one where she needed to decide whether or not to follow the desires and urges she'd felt since she was too young to really know what they were. Or to take the education she was still paying for and finally create some semblance of a “normal” life for herself.

Max had been faced with that same decision, and she'd seemed perfectly fine with it. Unfortunately, her mother's choice had led to a life of chastisement, judgment, and embarrassment for Caroline. And after Max's death, getting involved with Joey, the older and more experienced man who had taken her virginity and broken her heart, hadn't done anything to garner a better reputation for Caroline.

There was no way she ever wanted to make those mistakes again. Absolutely no way.

So with every bit of strength she could muster Caroline moved to the side, severing the grip Malec's friend had on her.

“Good night, Mr. Zenta,” she said finally, and when he still hadn't found his words, the arousal vibrating like a thousand pinpricks throughout her body threatened her resolve.

It was she who turned away from him, looking this time into stunning blue eyes that had also grown darker with desire, his lips twisting slightly in what she thought may have been an apologetic gesture.

“And good night to you too,” she said to him, before clearing her throat and pulling her skirt down.

“He takes some getting used to,” the friend said after Caroline had taken a few steps away from the twosome.

Oh god, why couldn't they just go away! Why couldn't they both simply walk away and let her get into this bathroom to do whatever she could to relieve the ache he—no, they'd—caused. With a sigh, Caroline stopped and turned, expecting to see them both and already willing herself to turn them down again.

She noticed his eyes once again. What was it about them that always drew her in? They were softer now, cornflower blue, she would call them. Wise beyond the thirtysomething years of age she pegged him at. And just one facet of a very handsome face. He wore a beard, neatly cut and not too thick, his hair was short also, almost shaved on the sides, longer at the top. He was Malec's friend, and he'd aroused her too. Damn.

“If you say so,” she replied with a shrug as if she didn't care. When the truth was, Caroline thought she just might care a little too much.

“I've known him for a long time, and he's really a good guy,” he continued. “And he wasn't lying. We could bring you pleasure you've never experienced before. But only if you're open to it.”

He was about the same height as Malec, his body more on the slim, athletic-build side in comparison to Malec's blatantly muscular physique. Where Malec appeared darker in complexion and personality, this guy was lighter, with his olive-hued skin and dusky brown hair. He wore jeans that fit as if custom made for him and a shirt, long-sleeved, white, gripping him like a second skin. Yeah, he was definitely attractive in that breath-stealing superhero type of way.

“What makes you so sure I'm a stranger to pleasuring myself?” she asked, but then held up a hand before he could reply. “Look, Mr.—”

“Verdi,” he offered with a quirk of his lips. “I'm Channing Verdi.”

Channing Verdi and Malec Zenta. Even their names piqued her interest.

“Mr. Verdi, I am well versed in pleasure and in kink, so please don't think I'm a prude. I'm simply not up for what you and your friend are offering. I hope you take no for an answer better than he does.”

“Actually,” Channing said, stepping closer, but stopping before she would consider him too close. “We're not in the business of forcing anyone to do anything. But if you're telling the truth about your experience with pleasure, you won't be able to hold out for long. So I'll bid you a good night and tell you that when you're ready, you know where to find us.”

This one didn't just turn his back and walk away. No, he moved at a much slower pace, taking backward steps while keeping his heated gaze on her, until it was necessary for him to turn and walk through the doorway leading back to the bar.

When he did, all Caroline could do was sigh and lean against the wall.

Malec Zenta had left her nipples tingling, her lips and tongue still tasting his mouth. While Channing Verdi and the memory of his hands on her had left her wet and achy and damned intrigued. They were a very dynamic duo, she thought moments later when she'd finally steadied her breathing. Dynamic and sexy as hell.

What had Malec told her earlier today? Don't tempt him. Hell, he and his friend were doing a damned fine job of tempting the hell out of her.

 

CHAPTER 5

“We've been waiting for you, pretty boy,” Phelan snapped the moment Malec finally emerged from his room. “You finished getting all dolled up?”