Her Lycan Lover (18 page)

He nudged the door open with his shoulder. Walking into the room, he felt an odd sense of comfort mingled with a scalding fever of desire to claim Sher. He held her closer to his chest for a moment. Counting her heartbeat and each exhalation, he pressed her nearer to him in order to share his body heat. The quivering of her body subsided little by little. Still her body was way too cold and his hackles jerked upright. Setting her down on the bed, he couldn’t wait another second. “Let me try something with you.”

She looked up at him. “What?”

He brought his head down, and brushed his lips across her sweet tasting mouth. The softness soothing, pure magic to his senses. This wasn’t a kiss to dominate, it was a kiss to protect her. Renew her. Give her what she needed—what he possessed as a Lycan guardian. If they were meant to be, she would show the signs of hungering him as much as he craved her and also being sustained by him as her protector
.

Sherry moaned, reaching up and hooking her fingers around his neck. She gave in to him, letting go a whimper. He deepened the kiss, slowly sliding his tongue into her mouth as he completely savored her lips. He drew out the moment, relishing the way she sucked his tongue, lightly bit his lips until he was the one pouring himself into her. She held a power over him as her body began to warm next to his.

Lifting his head, he stared down into her shimmering eyes, her cheeks suffused with color. “You’re going to be mine. Always. Feel better?”

“How did you do that?” she asked, running her hands up his arms and making his body ready to burst. “That was astonishing.”

He encircled her body, pressing into her, and forced himself to stop. Another second, and he’d be on the edge of wanting to peel off her clothes. Take her. “I’ve tried to tell you. I’m not the one with the power, baby. This is what we do together. It only gets better with time.”

“Incredible. I’ve never experienced such sensations. As though I’ve been replenished. I’m always so drained after doing this type of work.”

“All of the spellcasters are like you… in this ability to cross realms?”

“Some are far more advanced. I don’t practice much other than do shield maintenance. It’s why I was hoping to return to London and get involved in the Sisterhood Council. Out here, I’m nothing more than part of the maintenance crew. There hasn’t been much need.”

“Seems very important to me. The Sisterhood… do they support you at all?” He didn’t know what it meant for a Sisterhood Council member to be mated with a protector. They had their own winged guardians as she’d indicated earlier.

“We meet during seasonal cycles. It’s the strength we have as a unit that enables us to do our work. Singularly, not so much.”

“I beg to differ with you.” The rest of the creatures he knew of roaming the Earth were plodding idiots compared to casters as far as he was concerned.

“You’re biased.”

“Maybe.” He noticed her skin was tinged bluish from cold. “Take off your clothing. I’ll find you something dry to put on.”

“I—”

“Don’t you dare argue. Take them off or I’ll rip them off your body. You’ve got five seconds.”

“Turn away. Please, Quinn.”

A low grumble mixed with a growl in his throat. He turned and walked toward the closet. “I left some clothing in here. T-shirts and jeans.” When he came out, she was sitting on the bed holding up her shirt in front of her chest. “Doll, need I remind you I’ve tasted your amazing skin.”

“Give me a chance to get used to the idea of you—me… us.” She swiveled on the bed and asked him a question he wasn’t expecting. “What about children?”

Choking, he almost stumbled. “We’ll have plenty. I hope that’s a good thing.”

“I don’t know what Lycan children would be like.”

“If we’re lucky, like you.” He tugged her shirt free of her hands. “You’re so beautiful.” He stared down at her, the fullness of her breasts, and his cock stiffened. Sherry touched his hand, hesitantly, and he stroked a finger down her face, neutral territory.

“I meant type?”

“How do you mean?” The wolf edged closer to the surface, being in striking distance to what it craved and unused to denying its primal instincts. The feel of her skin, like satiny cream, soft and delicious, had been an icy white-hot kick to his senses.

“I was thinking of that small child in shifter form. How soon can Lycan children shift? And how are they born? As wolf pups or humans?” Her tone was even, but he was not fooled when his wolf perception distinguished the flaring of her vocal cords.

“That depends upon the life force at the time of birth.” He glanced at her, the first woman he’d discussed children with… another startling revelation. He wondered if she’d be forthright. “Is this idle curiosity?

“Well, considering that it’s a possibility between us and I’ve no in-depth knowledge of shifter biology, I’d have to say much more than idle.”

“It’s similar to discussing eye color, one never knows what will appear. Same with Lycan. Since you’re human, I’d bet our baby will be born in human form and if by the first full moon, he or she doesn’t shift, then chances are, the child won’t have the ability. Some powers, but not transformation.” He had to be honest with her and added, “And some come to be Lycan by bite.”

“I didn’t know.” That’s all she said. She didn’t question would it happen to her.

“I’ll bring you something to eat. I want you to rest. And then, I think it’s time we talked.”

“I need my bag. There’s a journal that I must complete.”

“I’ll get it. Just relax. You’ve earned a break.” He helped get her dress, ironically all the while his hands aching to remove her clothes. Pulling back the comforter, he helped her settle onto the king-size bed under the covers. “The master bedroom is on the far side of the house away from the kitchen. There’s a sitting room and adjoining bath through that doorway. If you want to go outside to the private garden, wait for me. The bathroom is well stocked. All that is here is yours.” He walked to the wet bar and poured her a glass of mineral water. “Ice?”

“No. I can’t take the cold.”

“You live in Colorado and you have an aversion to cold?”

“We don’t get to pick where we live. I was given this placement based upon my experience and skill level.”

“Strange considering you’re working in a shifter club.”

“I was given choices and that was my preference. I wanted to be fully aware of the elements of sexuality. Not be blind to carnal desire. It wasn’t a foolish choice. I’ve learned much over the last two years.” Temptation played upon the sensual curve of her lips.

“I bet you did,” he whispered, holding the glass of water to her lips. “Drink.”

He set the glass down, and clenched his jaw so tight, the vein hammered along his cheek at the idea of leaving her alone.

She reached for his hand, wrapping her delicate fingers around his palm. “I’ll be fine,” she whispered.

“Be back in a flash.” Quinn left her resting in bed after he’d delivered her satchel—a well-worn leather bag heavier than the Dickens. By the time he returned, the longer than hell blade she’d brandished was sheathed and lay at her side. The color had returned to her smooth flawless skin stretched over the gorgeous curves and hollows of her face. He longed to run his hands down her body, tracing the smooth skin.

Setting down the tray of food he’d scrounged from the pantry and refrigerator, he sank down into the soft mattress on the other side of the bed. Generally, he required massive amounts of food to keep up with his Lycan metabolism but today, his wolf’s hunger for food was eclipsed by his craving to taste the woman beside him.

Sherry speared a Greek olive using an hors d'oeuvre fork. “This all is very Mediterranean.”

“Last weekend a cousin of mine was down from Chicago. They’re unusual birds.” Quinn slathered hummus over flat bread, and held out a piece. “This is good for you. Plenty of nutrients.”

“You should eat as well.” She bit into the flatbread and chewed daintily.

“I’m concerned about you. Eat. More.” After prodding her to finish the pita, he skinned, cored, and cut a green apple into slices. He arranged them on a plate along with some shelled walnuts, and placed it on her lap. Touching her skin, he enjoyed the jolt of electricity that passed between them and made her gasp. “A vegetarian feast. Try this. I hear it’s excellent for your health.” He offered her a cup.

Sherry took a sip and winced. “What is it?”

“Buttermilk.”

“How old is your cousin? Ninety?”

“She’s old enough to know what to eat. Races decathlons.” No sense in saying that was a feat considering she was at least a half a millennium old. He was conflicted, not knowing if Sherry understood Lycan longevity.

“Then by all means, you should partake.”

His frenetic desire flared. The way he became when he shifted during a hunt and prey was close by. “Fine. If I drink half, then you agree to finish the rest?”

“I’d like to see you do that.”

She picked up a fresh fig, eyeing it curiously. “These were just sitting around?”

“There’s lots of atypical food hanging around. Everything from artichokes to caviar, bottles of champagne, and the freezer is stocked with
Kobe
and
Mishima
steaks.” Christ, he was babbling as the urge to thrust into her spread and pulsed hot through his veins.

“Mmm,” she murmured after biting into the soft flesh of the purple fig. “It’s so different than fig cookies.”

“Reminds me of other things,” he whispered, picking up one and biting down into the velvet smoothness and all he could think about was the taste of her mouth. “You, for instance.”

“How would you know? Have you imagined tasting me elsewhere?” She held his gaze, the ice in hers melted and flames of fire remained.

Jesus, she changed games and he could hardly keep up. She opened the door, and his Lycan nature stormed through. Her name reverberated in each of his heartbeats as his cock throbbed in his pants. “I’ve imagined you countless times, darling. Your sweetness slick under my tongue. I’d suck the seam of your wetness, nipping at just the right spot to make you go flaming wet. I imagine dark silky curls.”

She opened her eyes as her breath came out in rapid puffs. Sherry’s eyes were pools of liquid obsidian. Her pupils fully dilated with a mere hint of a topaz rim. She blinked and her long, dark lashes cast spiky shadows over her cheeks. Flicking her tongue over her plump lips, she drew the very breath from his lungs as his erection turned into granite with the overpowering need to thrust into her. “Have you had enough to eat?” He rose off the bed, picked up the tray and walked it over to the bar area.

“That was the nicest indoor picnic,” she murmured, turning on her side as she propped herself on one elbow, and a stream of sensuality poured off her flushed body. The sheet fell away from her long legs, crossed at her slender ankles. Intrigued, he was enticed by her movements, and wondered what she’d picked up those two years of managing the Den.

Quinn peeled off his shirt. There was no more waiting. Sherry’s scent had his teeth on edge and now he was about to remedy that.

“Let me help you off with your shirt.”

Her breathing became shallow and her eyes widened. “Is it time?”

“Nothing to fear, love.”

She raised her arms overhead and he removed her T-shirt. “Nothing.”

Lovely smooth skin underneath. Her chest moving up and down, revealing her breasts perfectly framed by the lacey bra. Sherry’s body was an invitation to his senses that were starved for her touch.

“The first time I’ll be patient and gentle with you,” he murmured, forcing himself to move slowly. He peered down at her, and pulled the sheet completely away from her body. “Being a guardian, means being in control. Of you and me. It’s my job to take care of you. Always.”

It must have been what she needed to hear for her delicious lips curved upward, and she laughed, low and throaty. Decadent as warmed chocolate. And twice as sweet. “I’ve only imagined that you’d be a… different type of lover.”

He met her glimmering eyes, wide and unblinking. There was a penetrating connection between them that had started with their first kiss, and continued to grow stronger. Once she’d held his hand inside the magick circle, this connection vibrated energetically within and around him. The hairs over his body were statically charged.

Tracing the edge of Sherry’s jaw with his fingers, he watched her every move. He desired to climb over her and luxuriate in her body. Unlike his usual forms of release that involved sex as a means to forget, with Sherry it was a means to remember. One he planned on building upon over and over. “Angel, you are the most beautiful woman. Are you mine to possession entirely?”

“Without question,” Sherry whispered.

“This is one of the steps, Sherry. Sunlight is out. A requirement in the cycle of bonding. During the full moon, if we make love, we’ll be bonded. Everlasting.”

“I understand. That means you’ll belong to me.”

“Only you.”

Bending down, he took her face between his hands. She trembled but he couldn’t stop. He had to taste her mouth. The anticipation of her pillow soft lips had him groaning. She tensed, held back, continued to hold back, and he couldn’t blame her.

“Baby,” he murmured. “You’re mine.

The wolf in him desired to smash apart the walls she’d erected, unwilling to stop until his mate presented herself to him. Submitted so he could rightfully claim her. He pressed his mouth to hers. Using his tongue, he separated Sherry’s lips, and thrust into her. She moaned against his mouth while her fingers traced over his face, along the sides of his cheeks. Without stopping, she swirled her fingers in gentle motions over his skin unleashing flashes of fire in his body. He felt her exploring the base of his neck and across his shoulders. Hesitant caresses cruised his skin and he tempered his broiling hunger to keep from pushing her back against the bed and climbing in between her legs.

God, the taste of Sherry was unbelievably better each time. He sucked her bottom lip into his mouth, cupping the back of her head, and then he couldn’t wait. Again and again he plunged his tongue in her mouth. Sherry responded, letting go her reserve with each swipe of his tongue. Deepening the kiss, she followed each of his moves until it was he who began to groan as she swept her hot tongue against his, and then her hands were threaded in his hair, tugging his scalp.