Sworn to the Wolf (5 page)

Moving lower still, she dragged her hair lightly over his belly and thighs and he sighed, writhing. At last, the good stuff. Grinning, she grabbed his cock gently, examining it. Soft, velvety smooth but hard too. Skin hot to the touch. She ran a fingertip down the tightened skin of his balls and he groaned, arching up into her touch.
You learn something new every day.

Time to get down to real business. She moved, bending to run her cheek along the length of his cock, stopping to kiss the head. Pre-come beaded at the slit and she dragged her tongue across it, the salty taste of him sliding through her senses.

“Holy...yeah, that’s it,” he hissed as she licked along the crown.

Good gracious she hoped she didn’t injure him. It seemed like a huge act of trust to let all those teeth so near something so precious and tender.

She took him into her mouth slowly, incrementally, waiting and watching him for cues about what he did and didn’t like. She took him back as far as she could and pulled back, trying different things with her mouth and tongue. There was no way she’d get all of him in her mouth so she concentrated on what she could reach without embarrassing herself and gagging.

“Yes, yes, baby, like that. Oh.” He groaned, his hands drawing through her hair and over her shoulders.

Suddenly he pulled her up off him.

“What? Did I do it wrong?” she asked, confused and slightly embarrassed.

“No,” he said, laughing. “You did it too well. I’m going to come if you keep that up and I’d rather be inside you when that happens.” He kissed her and laid her down on her back. Her pulse thundered and nervousness made her slightly queasy, warring with her intense desire to have him inside her that very moment.

Reaching across her, he pulled a condom out of the side table drawer and she wondered just how many women he brought here to do this with.

As if he read her mind he said, “I just bought these today, for you. I’ve never had a woman in this bed before.” She felt better until he sheathed himself and settled back between her thighs. The head of his cock nudged against her and it occurred to her that he seemed awfully big and it had been a long time since anything other than her vibrator had been in there.

“We’ll go slow,” he said, pushing inside her and stopping immediately. “Oh Rain, you’re so tight.” Beads of sweat popped out along his forehead and she felt the strain in his muscles.

“It’s been nearly a year,” she said and he groaned. “I’m sorry.”

“No, don’t apologize. You feel so damned good that I have to take it slow or I’ll come before I even get all the way in. I don’t want to hurt you either,” he said and slid in a bit more.

So full it burned at the edges as he slid in a bit more. After a few more breaths, pleasure pushed everything else from the points along the nerve endings he stroked. She moaned and he moaned along with her. “This feels so good. Please, Laurent.” She had to have more of him.

“Honey, I need to go slow or...”

She couldn’t wait, she arched her pelvis the next time he moved to get inside her a bit more and he ended up sheathing himself fully in that one stroke. Tears sprang to her eyes—
that was a bit painful
—stretched, but damned good.

“Am I hurting you? You should have waited. I’m sorry, sweetheart,” he said, desperately trying not to move. She was so tight and hot that he was a second from exploding. Having her beneath him, naked, her cunt gripping his cock in a tight embrace, was so much more than he’d imagined.

“No, it’s passing. Please, please, I need you to move,” she begged and he obliged her. He knew she was feeling better as her face lost the lines of strain, loosening as she rolled her hips. He saw the desire in her eyes, saw her pupils enlarge and her lips part. Her moan was laced with pleasure and it shot straight to his balls. “Omigod. So good,” she whispered and he smiled and began to move, setting a rhythm. Shortly he changed his angle to drag across her sweet spot and give her friction across her clit.

She was incredible. Beautiful as her head moved from side to side.
He
made her feel that way. Pride and possessiveness rang through him.

“What do you need? What can I do for you?”

“I need, oh, I don’t know. I want to, oh, it feels so good.” Her voice was hoarse and he was suddenly right on the edge listening to her, knowing that no one had ever made her feel that way before. He reached down and began to stroke across her clit with his thumb and she went over right at that moment, the muscles deep inside her rippling and spasming around his cock, pushing him into climax as well. Her name broke from his mouth as she pulled her knees back, encircling his waist with her calves. Her cunt pulled his cock back inside each time he stroked out.

Her moans had gotten louder, more intense, as their climaxes united and drew out. He then understood why Kari and Andreas were so loud—making love with a Mate was simply beyond comparison to any sex he’d ever had. It was like comparing scratching an elbow to a mind-numbing orgasm.

Finally, long moments later, he pulled out, pulling her into his arms after he’d disposed of the condom. He kissed her temple gently and sighed, totally satisfied for the first time in his life. “Thank you for trusting me.”

“Thank you for making love to me. Or was it fucking? I don’t know, I mean, I’m not up on all of this relationship stuff. Like I said, it’s been a year and even then it was only three times and before that it was twice with my ex and let me tell you, he’s got nothing on you, Laurent Cole. I’ve never had an orgasm, well, not that I didn’t give myself anyway and god, did I say that out loud? Now I’m babbling, which happens when I’m nervous and
mmmmfp
!” Laurent put two fingers over her lips to stop her, trying not to laugh.

“It was making love. I could take you, hard and fast, up against a wall or a door but it would still be making love. Always that between us,” he growled. “It isn’t about experience, it’s about the combination of you and me.”

She nodded and he scented her blush before he could see it. “Is it weird if I say you don’t look a day over thirty? I mean, even if you did you’d still be handsome and stuff.” She clamped her lips shut.

“Can’t speak for other people, but I consider it a compliment. The men in my family age well.” It wasn’t time to tell her yet, werewolves lived well into their second century.

“Um, so...” She twisted the sheets in her hands nervously, clearly working up to say more.

“You can always talk to me.” He took her hands, kissing each one.

“Well, two things really. One, I should call my roommates and tell them I’m not coming home so they won’t worry. And two, I’d really like to do it again.”

Her guilelessness charmed him. She wasn’t clueless, or helpless in any way, but there was no denying how sexy it was to be discovering all this new territory with her. He gestured to the phone on the table. “When you’re done with that, we’ll get started on round two.”

“Are you sure?”

Snorting, he brought her hand to his already reviving cock. “What do you think?”

Quickly, she rolled to her feet. He watched her as she found her purse, grabbing her phone from it.

“I’ve got my phone here,” she told him as she swayed back into the room. Once she’d settled against the headboard, the sheet pooled at her waist, she sent him a prim smile and then called home.

Entranced and feeling rather lazy, he lay there with his eyes closed, not wanting to stare at her as she spoke to her friend.

This was true satiation. The scent of his mate all over his body, the two of them relaxed and in the same place. Wolves loved to touch and be touched, loved that warmth and comfort from pack, especially from intimates.

“Harrison, hey. Listen, I won’t be home tonight. I just wanted to call you to tell you so you wouldn’t worry.” She paused, listening. “No, he’s fine. Yes.
Yes
, I know. We did use a condom. The Harbor Steps, I swear to you he’s not a creep or a weirdo. Yes, good night and I’ll see you tomorrow. Bye.”

She hung up and sighed, snuggling back down and into his body.

“Who is this guy?” He frowned but kept his eyes closed.

“Who?”

“The man you just spoke to.”

“He’s my roommate. Harrison Watts. He’s like a big brother. He worries about me. You’re a stranger. He wants me to be safe.”

“Harrison Watts the photographer?”

“Yes. Do you know his work?”

“Yes, Andreas has several of his photographs in his office. He’s got an incredible eye.”

“I’ll tell him you said that. He’s been my family since I came out here.”

That he understood. Family was important. “And your other roommate, you said you lived with two men?”

She looked down at him. He sounded so cute and unsure as he tried to be nonchalant about fishing for information about her male roommates. “Elton, he’s a cellist. He’s adorable, talented and likes guys.” Even if he hadn’t been gay, he was more scattered than she could ever deal with in a romantic partner.

Was that what she and Laurent were then? Or was this just a really nice thing that would happen when he came to town? And asking made her seem like a loon, right? Although who made up that dumb rule? It was her life, wasn’t it? Why couldn’t a woman ask a simple question?

Still a little indignant from her mental debate, she blurted, “So hey, um, well I mean to say, we just met and everything so it’s sort of fast, but, are we dating or just going out?”

He opened his eyes and his gaze settled on her like a physical thing. “The distinction being?”

“Well um, is this an exclusive thing or will you see other people and sleep with them too?” Which sounded so far from cool she cringed.

“I don’t think what happened between us tonight is something casual, do you?”

“Didn’t I tell you several times that I haven’t had sex in a year? Jeez, of course it isn’t casual. Not to me anyway but like I said, I don’t date really and I don’t know what the rules are.”

“The rules are that I exist to make you happy,” he said, hugging her tightly.

She reached down and found him hard. “Look at you, working so diligently to obey the rules.”

He laughed and proceeded to show her how well he could obey.

Three more times.

Chapter Three

Rain woke up naked and pressed up against something very warm and very firm. She opened her eyes slowly.
Oh yeah
, she thought with a smile.
Laurent.
He lay sleeping, one arm lying across her stomach, the other up above her head. One of his thighs was thrown over hers. Their hair spread out, entwined across the pillows. The sun came through the windows and she extricated herself from him to go and look out over Puget Sound at the glittering water and the ferries dotting the horizon.

The night before had been more than just good sex, it had shattered her tiny life and set it on its ear. Last night, being with him had felt so good, so right—it scared the hell out of her. He was this sophisticated older man and she was already on her way to falling in love. She felt like a rube but at the same time it was wonderful to be so damned happy. She just didn’t want to be in some lopsided relationship with a guy who buzzed into town for dinner and a quick fuck every once in a while.

“I’ve never opened my eyes in the morning to a more beautiful sight,” Laurent said sleepily. “Come back to bed, I’m lonely without you.”

She turned and saw him there, her heart leaped into her throat. “You’ve never seen a more beautiful sight? Laurent Cole, you’re an exemplary specimen of manhood, all broad and muscled, that glorious hair spread out around you. You’re like sex on legs.”

She crawled back into bed with him, into the refuge of his arms.

“Mmm, you feel good and you inflate my ego as well as my cock. I think I’ll keep you.” He moved in for a kiss.

She ducked back. “Don’t kiss me, I have morning breath. Sheesh, I’m a novice at this spending the night thing, I don’t even have a change of clothes or a toothbrush.”

He kissed her forehead. “I have an extra toothbrush for you and I hope you don’t mind but I took the liberty of buying you a few things. Some clothes for you to have here should you wish to stay over in the future. I’m not in Seattle every day. My job keeps me up at the lodge most of the time but I’d like to come out as often as I can to see you. Soon, I’d love for you to come up to the lodge. I think you’d like it. It’s beautiful. A much slower pace. You can see the stars at night. And my family, well I told them about you so I know they want to meet you.”

“You have this whole life so far away from here.” God, she could get really hurt by this man if she gave him her heart and he didn’t want to change his life.

“You’re my life. I live a few hours’ drive from here but I make it often enough for business I can surely do it to see you. I’ve arranged it with my boss so my trips here can be work related.”

“This is moving pretty fast. I mean, you just met me two days ago and now you’re saying I’m your life?” She felt so calm about it, she knew she should be wary but it all seemed so right, so normal. Still, she didn’t just fall off the potato truck and instant true love did not happen.

“Listen, aren’t there things in your life that you just knew to be so?”

“I suppose, a few.”

“Well then. From the moment I saw you in The Black Cat the other morning I knew that I wanted to be with you. Trust me. Trust yourself. Let’s learn one another. When do you have your next days off?”

“I do four days a week and then three days off. I’m off today, tomorrow and Sunday.”

“Come with me to the lodge then. Just for the afternoon. It’s a long drive, yes, but I’d like you to meet the people I consider to be my family. If you like, you can stay over.
I’d
like that. But baby steps first. Come and see it and I’ll bring you back tonight. We can stay in a hotel if we get too tired.”

“I don’t know. I do a lot of painting on my days off.”

Warming to the topic, he sat up, disarming her with how beautiful he was. “Bring your supplies with you, paint there. The light’s fantastic. The air is clean. Today is clear. The lodge sits on Star Lake. You’ll love Kari and Emma; their kids are wonderful. In fact, my number two girl, right after you, lives there.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Oh is that so?”

He laughed, thrilled that she was jealous. “Her name is Helene and she’s four. She’s Andreas and Kari’s daughter, the oldest. She and her siblings are like my own children, I’ve been so involved in their upbringing.” He kissed her nose. “So? What do you say? You can give my mobile number and the number at the lodge to Harrison so he won’t worry about you.” He wanted to show her his life, where her life would be.

She inhaled and blew the air out. “I really want to agree, Laurent, but I just met you. This is just too fast. I’m sorry.”

He sighed but shook his head. “Don’t apologize. Of course I want you to come and visit but we can take it at your speed. I know this seems fast and scary, all I can do is tell you my intentions and back them up with my actions. We can do the trip to the lodge another time. You just say when and we’ll do it. For now why don’t I make you breakfast?”

“You’re not mad?”

He pulled her to sit beside him. “I respect you. I realize this seems very fast to you. I’m not angry that you’re taking things slow. How could I be mad at you for that?” He kissed her nose and suddenly she knew her choice.

“Okay. Let’s do it. I’ve lived here a year and haven’t been to the Cascades at all yet.”

“Are you sure? I don’t want you to feel pressured or rushed. I want you to feel comfortable and enjoy yourself. Like I said, I’d love for you to stay over for a few days but I’ll bring you back tonight. It’s all totally up to you.”

If she’d had any remaining doubts about going his reaction cleared them up. He didn’t try to pressure her. Still, she knew it was insanity, going up to the mountains with a man she’d just met. Harrison would freak. She couldn’t explain it but it felt right and safe and she’d lived for so long making the careful choice, never doing anything impulsive or even fun, that she wanted to be just a bit wild.

“Yes. I’m sure. Since I’ve been here I’ve worked and painted and that’s about it. Going up to the mountains sounds like fun.”

“You lead an awfully serious life for someone so young. Listen, why don’t you shower? I’ll call up to the lodge and tell them to expect you. Your toothbrush is the red one. If you’re comfortable with it there are clothes hanging in the closet that should fit you. My friend, sort of a brother to me, he and his wife are clothing designers. They own a shop just up the street. Anyway I was passing through and said hello and he sent some stuff home with me. He loves to give people clothes. The lingerie is something I happened across and thought of you.”

She blushed. “Well, wow, um, thanks. And tell your friend I said thank you as well, it’s very nice of him.” She got up and he flopped on his back, grinning as he watched her walk into the bathroom before shutting the door behind her.

He leaned over to grab the phone and call the lodge.

“Hello, Anna. Is Andreas around?”

“Yes, hang on a second.”

A few moments passed. In the bathroom, the water ran as Rain brushed her teeth. The domesticity of the moment spread warmth through his chest.

“How’d your date go?” Andreas asked and Laurent heard the smile in his friend’s voice.

“It went very well indeed. Listen, I’ve invited her up to the lodge for the afternoon and possibly a few days. Can you keep the
activity
away from the house, please?”

“Ah, of course. It’s just the regulars this weekend. I’ll make sure Anna takes care of your room and plans a nice welcome dinner for Rain tonight. Kari will be over the moon about this.”

“She’s a painter so she’s bringing her supplies. I told her she could paint wherever she wanted. And she’s only agreed to come up for the day. I’d like her to stay over of course but I want to leave it up to her. So tell your lovely wife to keep it mellow.”

Andreas laughed. “Easier said than done, my friend. But she’s better at this stuff than any of us are anyway. Rain can paint wherever she likes, of course. By the way, I’ve asked Alek to take your place as my bodyguard and he’s accepted. He won’t be able to get here until next week so Skye has volunteered to take over until then. Sealing your Mate bond is the most important thing right now.”

“Excellent. I’m glad to hear it. I’ll see you all later.”

Laurent got up and walked to the bathroom door and knocked. “Rain, care to learn just how wonderful a shower can be?”

“Do tell,” Rain called out and he went into the steam of the shower to show her yet another reason to love him.

* * *

He smiled as she walked into the room wearing the jeans Drew had given her.

“Laurent, these are...well, you’re very thoughtful. I can’t believe you guessed my size so well.”

“Like I said, it’s Drew. I just described you to him and he chose all the stuff. I do prefer your choice of shirt though.” She wore one of his dress shirts with no bra, tied at the waist, the sweet swell of her stomach peeking out.

“I hope you don’t mind. It just smelled like you.” Her blush was so endearing. She had no idea of her effect on him at all.

Moving to her, he pulled her into his arms. “If you keep on saying things like that we’ll never leave. I now have a fantasy about you wearing nothing more than one of my dress shirts.”

“Oh my,” she stammered a bit. “I don’t have any shoes other than the pumps so I suppose I’ll wear them.”

Laurent looked down and then back up. She looked like sex on legs and the fact that she had no idea made her even sexier. Her breasts were high and round against the front of the shirt. It was white and when he concentrated very hard he could see the pink of her nipples through the fabric. Nipples that tightened under his gaze. Her hair was wet and curled around her face and down her back, leaving damp spots where it lay. The jeans were slung low but long so the heels just accentuated the length of her legs. He sighed wistfully, she was so damned beautiful.

“What?” she asked, looking amused. So she had a slight idea of how she affected him at least. She sidled up to him, swaying, her breasts moving as she walked. When she stopped the tips of her nipples just touched his chest. “So shouldn’t we go now?” she said with her lips against his neck.

“You’re a very naughty girl.” He smiled, tapping the tip of his index finger on the end of her nose, liking this saucy side of her.

“Hmm. Really? Will you punish me for it?” she asked, taking his finger and sucking it into her mouth, swirling her tongue around it until he groaned.

“Most assuredly, with interest for the raging hard-on you’ve caused.”

She smiled sweetly and looked down, excited. “Really? Wow, this siren stuff is cool!”

He threw back his head and laughed then. The shift from sexy minx back to sweet innocent was wonderful, playful. He put an arm around her shoulder. “Shall we go, Miss Trouble?”

“Okay. I’m looking forward to today, you know.”

“I’m glad. I think you should pack a bag just in case. Like I said, I’ll bring you back tonight but if you want to stay you’ll have clothes, or if we decide to stop at a hotel. You know, like if I can’t keep my hands off you another moment.” He locked up behind her and they headed to her house.

When they entered her house, Harrison and Elton were at the table eating breakfast. Both men looked up and did a double take, clearly stunned at her and Laurent’s appearance.

“Hi, guys,” Rain said as she came into the room. “Laurent Cole, this is Harrison Watts and Elton Keller. FYI, I’m going to the mountains for the day with Laurent. While I toss some clothes in a bag Laurent is going to give you the number at his house and his mobile too, call me if you need me.” She flounced into her room with Laurent in her wake.

Laurent looked around her bedroom as she threw on some tennis shoes and then packed a few things into a duffel bag.

“Where’s your art?”

“Oh it’s in the studio. Hang on and I’ll take you through. I need to grab some supplies anyway,” she told him, her head still in the closet.

“Music and books are also a passion I see,” he said when she turned around, indicating the stacks of books and CDs that littered the room.

“Yes, I spend too much money on both.” She reached down and picked up her mp3 player, adding it to the bag. “I like to listen to music when I paint,” she explained.

He took her bag and followed her out. The phone rang and Harrison called out that it was for her.

“Excuse me a second,” she said to Laurent and moved to the phone in the hallway. “Hello?”

“Rain Foster?”

“Yep, that’s me. What can I do for you?”

“This is Diane Holt of The Holt Gallery. We’re looking at your portfolio right now. Ms. Foster, your work is exceptional and we’d love to see more than just photographs. Would it be possible for you to bring down
Whirlpool
and
Crazy Diamond
to the gallery? If they’re as good as they look in the photos we’d like to offer you a show.”

“Are you serious? You...I just turned in the portfolio yesterday. Yes, yes, I can bring them down. When do you want to see them?” Rain asked her.

“Today if possible. If not it’ll have to wait until Monday because I’m going out of town for the weekend.”

“Can you hold on for just a moment? I need to see if I can make arrangements.” Heart racing, blood pounding, she was shocked she still managed to sound reasonably calm.

“Yes of course.”

“Thank you.” She punched the
hold
button.

Rain turned to face Harrison, Elton and Laurent, who all looked at her expectantly. “Oh. My. God. That’s Diane Holt from The Holt Gallery. They love my stuff. They want to see two pieces in person. She said if they’re as good as the photos they want to offer me a show!” She started jumping up and down and Harrison began to laugh while Elton clapped and Laurent just smiled and took her in. Rain stopped and took a deep breath. “Okay, enough of that, she’s holding. Laurent, I know you want to get back home but I need to get these paintings down to Pioneer Square. Can you wait for me or can we do this another day? I’m sorry.”

“Sorry for what? This is incredible. I’ll take the paintings over there right now. My truck is most definitely large enough.”