Dangerous Craving (11 page)

light outside, but it was impossible to tell how late it was.

“A few hours.” He trailed one of his fingers over her abdomen and teased her

bellybutton.

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Under his touch, her muscles clenched.

When he ran his finger over the sensitive area above her mound, she tensed even

more. She didn’t want his finger or much foreplay, she just wanted to feel him inside

her.

Spreading her legs in invitation, she started to push the cover completely off when

abruptly he stilled.

His hand tightened against her stomach but then he quickly withdrew it. Sighing,

he said, “I’m sorry, I know you need to rest.”

She might be tired but she was also incredibly turned on. When he started to get up,

she reached out for his arm. “Stay with me for a little while?”

With a clenched jaw, he nodded.

She didn’t know why he was holding back, but she didn’t plan to let him. Turning

away from him, she smiled against the pillow as he pulled her tight against his body.

She loved the feel of him holding her, didn’t know if she’d ever get tired of that strong

embrace.

With her marked shoulder against the bed and her hair draped across it, the Celtic

marking was hidden. And she didn’t think he’d be looking for it anyway. Not when she

could practically smell the lust coming off him.

His muscular chest pressed against her back and the feel of his erection was

unmistakable. Even if he wanted to, he couldn’t deny how much he desired her right

now. He only wore a pair of boxers, but he’d taken the privilege of completely

undressing her, panties and all.

And she planned to take full advantage of that by teasing him. Wiggling her bottom

over his covered erection, her smile grew even wider when he groaned under his

breath.

“You okay?” she asked quietly while trying not to laugh.

“Fine.” It sounded as if his jaw were wired shut.

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One of his hands was thrown across her middle so she placed her own over his.

Threading her fingers through his, she slowly slid his hand lower until he cupped her

mound.

“Nissa, I’m trying to let you sleep. You’ve been through a lot.” His voice sounded

strained even as his middle finger slowly began to rub over her clit.

In response she pushed back against him and didn’t bother to keep her movements

subtle. She rubbed her butt over his covered erection slowly and seductively. “Take

your boxers off.”

After a moment, he withdrew his hand. Behind her she could feel him rustling

around and knew he was doing as she’d said. While her body mourned the loss of his

touch, she smiled in triumph when he pressed up against her and this time all she felt

was his hard cock.

She tried to move against him but he placed a dominating hand on her hip. “Don’t

move, Nissa.”

Though her body strained to writhe against him, she did as he said. She was

already wet but the underlying note of command in his voice sent another rush of heat

between her legs.

She was slick and wet and willing. “Please touch me.”

Since she couldn’t see him she couldn’t be sure, but she thought she felt him smile

against her hair.

The firm hand on her hip slid up to her breast and cupped it. But he didn’t make an

attempt to do anything else. “I
am
touching you,” he murmured.

She growled in frustration. “You know what I mean.”

“Hmm.” He didn’t say anything else, just held her like that.

Gritting her teeth, she decided not to give in. Instead she slightly lifted her leg and

placed it on top of his. When she did, she opened herself up to him. The head of his

cock inadvertently breached her opening.

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Barely.

What she wouldn’t give to have him push fully inside her.

Thomas chuckled against the top of Nissa’s head. “You’re an impatient little vixen.”

Without warning, he thrust into her. She gasped at the intrusion but he didn’t give

her time to get used to it. He drove into her again and again. She was slick and tight

and he knew it would take all his restraint not to come right away.

The sensation of her clenching around him raced through his entire body, making it

difficult for him to think about anything else but her tight sheath.

He actually had to clamp down on the need to come. His balls pulled up so tight it

bordered on painful.

Nissa panted and moaned as he thrust in and out of her. Her inner walls clenched

tighter and tighter, letting him know how close she was.

Maybe he was being selfish. He knew how tired she was, but he wanted to prolong

this. He stopped moving and kept himself buried inside her, all the way to the hilt.

If he could, he’d stay like this for hours, deep in the pure essence of her. Even after

the time they’d spent together he kept thinking that somehow this was a really messed-

up dream. That Mother Nature was just screwing with him and he was going to wake

up and she’d be gone again.

“You’re such a tease,” Nissa groaned testily.

No, this wasn’t a dream. In his dreams Nissa never had an attitude. Which made

real life that much better. He loved it when she got feisty with him.

Reaching over her, he began teasing her clit again. She sighed contentedly when he

did. “Touch your breasts,” he whispered into her ear.

He felt her shudder at his words.

While he tweaked and slowly rubbed his finger over her sensitive bundle of nerves,

she cupped one of her breasts.

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Thankfully he had excellent vision in the darkness. Despite the dim room he

watched as she gently held the perfectly rounded globe. As she started rubbing her

thumb over her hardened nipple, he nuzzled her neck. Seeing her like this brought out

his most animalistic side.

When he raked his teeth over her sensitive skin, her inner walls tightened around

him. The small action made his inner wolf roar. What he wouldn’t give to be able to

mark her right now.

To sink his teeth into her just enough to claim her. To bond them.

But he couldn’t do that. Even if his inner animal wanted to, his human side could

never take that choice from her. Things were still too fresh between them. He wanted to

take things slower, prove he’d always be there for her.

Then he’d mark her and bind them forever. Everyone would know she belonged to

him. And vice versa.

Suddenly her back straightened and she jerked against him. Her climax came fast

and hard and was totally unexpected.

Her inner walls clamped around his dick, milking and squeezing him relentlessly.

Increasing his rhythm, he rubbed her clit faster. As he did, she shouted out his name.

Reaching out, she clawed against the sheet as he slammed into her.

The sound of his name on her lips had always made him crazy. Now was no

different.

“Yes, yes.” She repeated it as her orgasm rippled through her.

Without giving her time to react he pulled out and flipped her on her back. She

opened her mouth but to say what, he’d never know. Slanting his mouth over hers, he

pushed into her once again.

Immediately her legs wrapped around his waist.

He increased his rhythm, pumping and pushing until finally he exploded inside

her.

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As he released into her, he pulled his head back and let out the groan clawing at his

throat. Filling her this way gave him a primal satisfaction that almost scared him.

He continued driving into her and she met him stroke for stroke until he collapsed

onto his elbows above her.

Smiling, she reached up and cupped his face. The gentle action took him by

surprise. The expression in her eyes was filled with satisfaction and happiness, exactly

the way she used to stare at him after they’d made love.

His throat clenched, knowing that he’d put that look on her face.

Leaning down, he kissed her again but this time it wasn’t hungry or needy. He

feathered light kisses all over her face. Her forehead, cheeks, then finally her mouth.

As his tongue danced with hers, his cock started to harden again and her inner

walls once again tightened around him.

Chuckling, she pulled back a fraction. “I think I might be too tired,” she whispered.

Gently, he withdrew from her and pulled the covers tight around her. But he didn’t

leave her. He just gathered her in his arms and waited for her to fall asleep.

* * * * *

Nissa opened her eyes and stretched her arms above her head. The room was

empty and when she rolled over and saw the time, she winced.

It was almost seven. Good Lord, she’d slept most of the day away.

After showering and changing into jeans and a T-shirt, she went in search of

Thomas.

In the kitchen she found Caro and a young girl bent over a textbook and open spiral

notebook at the center island. She thought she’d met the girl at the party, but couldn’t

remember her name. Nissa hovered in the doorway as she watched the two of them,

unsure if she should interrupt.

Caro looked up first and smiled. “Hey, I was wondering if you’d sleep the whole

day through. Thomas told us about what happened.”

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The giant stone statue outside had probably invited a lot of questions so she didn’t

blame him. Nissa took a few steps inside. “Hi. Uh, where’s Thomas?”

The older woman’s smile didn’t falter. “Meeting with his father and brothers. Pack

business. He left not too long ago so he’ll probably be a few hours.”

“Do you mind if I grab something to eat?”

Caro laughed at her question. “Athena wanted to do her homework over here and I

just wanted to see my nephew. Trust me, you have more business being here than we

do. Take whatever you want.”

Nissa wasn’t sure how to respond so she ignored it and hurried toward the fridge.

After losing so much energy earlier she was beyond famished. As she stared at the

contents of Thomas’ fridge, she couldn’t help but overhear Caro and the young girl’s

conversation. They were talking about perfectly mundane family stuff but it made her

ache.

While she loved her mother and sister, they’d never been a particularly warm

family. Not even close. After she’d run away—and subsequently met Thomas—her

mother had kept a much tighter rein on her. She’d been convinced Nissa needed more

discipline in her life.

Sighing, she pulled out a couple containers and peered inside. When all she found

was different meat products, she frowned.

“Uncle Thomas probably doesn’t have anything you’d like but we can order

takeout if you want,” the young she-wolf said as she slid her book away from her.

“Athena,” Caro murmured, “leave her alone.”

“It’s fine. I’m sure I’ll be able to find something.” She smiled reassuringly at the

young girl who only blushed and returned to her book.

Nissa slid the containers back into the fridge and ignored the emptiness filling her.

The sensation had nothing to do with hunger, either.

It was sadness. Plain and simple.

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Thomas’ family was hanging out at his house for no other reason than they wanted

to spend time with him. No one in her family ever simply stopped by. And she didn’t

either. Her family always called first and there was usually a purpose to the visit. Never

just to say hi.

It made the differences between their families suddenly and blindingly clear. What

had she been thinking? She’d known from the start this could never work.

Swallowing back the lump in her throat, she mumbled an excuse and hurried back

to her room. Since she hadn’t technically unpacked, it didn’t take long to gather her

things.

No matter what Thomas said, she couldn’t stay here and she couldn’t drag him

back to Europe with her. His family meant too much to him.

It was so obvious. No matter what he said she couldn’t tear him away from his

pack. They were the only family he’d ever known and the thought of bringing him to

meet and live with her distant family was almost laughable.

If it wasn’t so heartbreaking.

She had to get out of here before Thomas came back. No way would she be able to

go through with this in front of him. Fighting back tears, she fished out her cell phone

and called a taxi company. Leaving this way would piss Thomas off but in the end he’d

thank her. Maybe not now, but eventually he’d get over this and realize how right she

was.

Love and attraction weren’t enough sometimes. Not when the real world was

glaring so bright in her face. Besides, real love shouldn’t result in making her mate sad

or endanger his life.

Cutting ties now would be so much easier than dealing with years and years of

resentment. In the end, she knew that’s what would happen.

When the taxi company told her they could pick her up in twenty minutes, she

allowed herself a small moment of relief. By the time she got to the airport and left,

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Thomas would just be getting home. She’d be able to send someone to pick up Venetia

later so that wasn’t even an issue.

Hating herself for leaving this way, she quickly wrote him a note, then fled the