A Rebel Without Claws (Southern Charm #1)

12. ~Celine~

Chapter 12

~Celine~

An entire flock of butterflies exploded in my belly as I walked up to the body shop. The radio was playing some Billie Eilish song when I entered the garage, looking for a particular werewolf.

Ty stepped from underneath a hood and wiped his hands on a rag. “Hey, Celine. You looking for Rhett?”

Clearing my throat, I shook my head. “No. I was looking for Ronan. If he’s not too busy.”

Ty’s mouth ticked up on one side. “He’s not too busy for you.”

The afternoon sun was dipping behind the trees, but it was still hot. Hopefully, he thought my flushed cheeks was from the heat.

“Can you tell me where he is?” I saw Bowie working underneath another hood. He gave me a nod and went back to work.

“He’s out back at the paint barn with Zack. You can walk right on through that back door.”

I hurried around the cars, thankful Rhett was in the office. I didn’t see Ronan’s uncle Shane either, so all my prayers to avoid the awkwardness of dropping by for no other reason than to see the man I was completely infatuated with were answered.

Once through the back door, there was a well-tread path in the grass leading to the paint barn. I could hear Zack rambling about something as I stepped closer. He seemed to be recounting some sci-fi show I’d seen on Netflix, but he stopped talking before I reached the barn. The sound of the paint machine stopped too. Of course, they were werewolves and must’ve sensed me.

As I walked in, Ronan was removing a mask to protect his mouth from the fumes, but I froze at the sight of the rest of him. He was wearing one of those onesie coveralls, but he had his unzipped to the waist, the arms of the onesie tied at his hips. Underneath, he’d been wearing a threadbare white T-shirt that was soaked through with sweat, adhering to his muscular chest like a second skin.

When I finally caught his gaze, it was obvious he recognized the desire in my eyes. He tossed the painting tool aside that looked like some sort of gun with a wide nozzle at the end. Then he removed the glove he’d been holding it with and let it drop to the barn floor.

“Zack, why don’t you take a break,” he suggested, though it sounded more like a command.

His voice fell to that deep register, sending a spray of goose bumps up my bare arms. Then he stalked toward me, his hair a mess, his body dirty and drenched in sweat, spots of red paint on his arms and covering one of his hands.

“Yeah, good idea. I’ll take a break,” said Zack, though neither of us even looked at him as he left through the open double doors of the barn on the far end .

“Why didn’t you wear gloves on both hands?” I asked dumbly as he drew closer, those piercing eyes tracing down my body.

He shrugged. “What did I do so right to get this surprise visit?”

“We haven’t gotten our second date, and I . . .”

He was almost to me.

“I missed you,” I admitted freely.

I was rewarded with a wide grin. “Celine.” He heaved out a sigh along with my name, shaking his head as he stopped right in front of me. “You can’t say things like that when I’m already so weak for you.” He lowered his head and brushed his lips over mine, pressing forward, only touching me with his mouth.

I threaded my fingers into his messy hair, fisted my hands, and pulled him forward as I stepped back. He followed with a groan, kissing me until my back hit the barn wall.

He broke the kiss and planted one hand above my head, his eyes dark and intense. “I missed you too.”

“Show me,” I teased, thinking of our first date.

“I don’t want to get you all sweaty.”

“Maybe I want you to get me all sweaty.”

And that was all it took. He opened his mouth on my neck on a moan as I curled a hand in the side of his shirt and pulled his body against me.

I whimpered as he nipped and licked his way down my throat. “Ronan.”

“You smell so good,” he murmured into my skin, surround- ing me with his heat and his musky masculine scent. “Taste so good.”

“Yes.” I curled my fist tighter in his hair as he skated his mouth down the vee of my dress .

He’d been avoiding putting his hands on me, but he finally gave in, reaching around and cupping my ass. He grazed his mouth over my breast. I’d worn a thin bralette under my summer dress, which meant I could feel the heat of his mouth on my nipple.

When he grazed his teeth over the peak, I urged, “Yes, more.”

I’d been pressing and pulling him, simply needing so much I didn’t know what to do. But then he fell to his knees, nudging his nose and mouth against my mound before he peered up at me.

Heavens, the feral look in his darkened eyes made me shiver. As if of their own volition, my hands inched up the hem of my dress, slowly, boldly, until I held all of the material at my waist, giving him a good look at my white satin panties.

Holding my gaze, he eased forward and opened his mouth on my mound, tonguing me through the thin material.

“Oh God.” I clutched his shoulder with my free hand as he sucked and groaned, his eyes having lost all of their blue.

“Open your thighs wider,” he commanded.

I did, watching him slide my panties to the side with his long fingers. He sat back, biting his bottom lip as he glided the pads of two fingers along my slick slit and around my throbbing clitoris.

“So fucking pretty all over, Celine.” He gripped my bare thigh with his paint-stained hand and continued working my clit with his other one.

When he leaned forward again and flicked his tongue around the tight bud, I made a sound I was a little embarrassed by, but I rocked my hips forward anyway, seeking more of his hot mouth.

Groaning, he lapped at me, then slid his two fingers inside me and pumped, the wet sound of my arousal on his fingers as he fucked me with them sending me closer and closer to climax .

“You’re so fucking sweet,” he whispered, his hot breath on my clit as he circled it with the tip of his tongue. “I wanna eat you and drink you all damn day.”

I clenched his shoulder. “I’m going to come way before that.”

He smiled against my pussy. “I want you to come in my mouth, baby. Need to taste more of you.”

“That won’t be a problem,” I panted as he began thrusting his fingers faster.

Then he opened his mouth over my slit, flicking my clitoris with his tongue. I clutched a fistful of his hair and held his mouth to me.

Within a minute, I was crying out. “Yes! Ronan, I’m coming.” I spasmed and continued to rock against him as he groaned, that low wolflike purr vibrating from his chest as he licked me clean. When I was nothing but a panting mess, one hand still clutching my skirt at my waist, I finally let go of his hair, but he wasn’t done.

He licked and kissed my swollen lips, now being careful to avoid my sensitive clit, then he righted my panties and planted a soft kiss to my mound before standing in front of me. Shamelessly, he thrust his fingers that had been inside me into his mouth and licked them clean, holding my gaze.

“Ronan,” was all I could manage. A swirl of heat spun again just at the sight of him licking my taste off his fingers.

“When is our third date?” he asked, curling one arm around my waist, the other hand planted firmly on my ass where he gave me a squeeze.

“This was a date?” I asked, still breathing heavily.

“If I had my tongue in your pussy, then it was a date to me. ”

I laughed, a heated blush creeping up into my cheeks.

“Oh, she’s shy now? After lifting her skirt and tempting me so wickedly.”

I glanced away, embarrassed. “I couldn’t help it.”

“I’m so glad.” He pressed his lips to mine, my scent mingling with his in an oddly pleasurable way. “I loved it.”

I buried my face into the crook of his neck. He laughed and pulled me close, his hard cock pressing against my belly. I wanted to do something about that.

“Is there anywhere private we can go?” I reached down between us and slid my hand over his erection.

He hissed and gently gripped my wrist before pulling it away. “No way. The guys can listen to me getting you off, but no way we’re giving them a full show.”

“They can’t see us! Can they?” I looked around, wondering if there were cameras out here or something.

“No.” He chuckled. “They can’t see us. But they’re wolves. They can hear well enough, and you weren’t exactly quiet.”

“I can’t believe I didn’t think about that. I’m so embarrassed.”

“Don’t be.” He eased back, gripping my waist, rubbing his thumbs at my hips. “I’m glad. Now they’ll stop telling me I don’t have a chance with Celine Cruz.”

“They didn’t say that, did they?” I scowled.

“ Everyone has been saying that,” he assured me, his playful smile wide and sweet.

“Well, they’re wrong.”

“I know.” He squeezed my hips again, looking down and making a disgruntled sound before releasing me. “Fuck, sorry about your dress. ”

There was red paint on the waist on one side and a handprint of red fingers on my thigh, still visible when I smoothed the skirt down.

“It’s okay.” I smiled up at him. “It was worth it. I’ll keep my stained dress in memory of our second date.”

He laughed, the pleasant sound rolling through my chest and filling me with warmth and happiness. His aura was the brightest pink, and I couldn’t help but smile. I was pretty sure I’d made him light up from within.

“So when do I get my third date?” he asked again.

“My brother’s got a gig in Mid-City tomorrow night. I could meet you there.”

I still hadn’t told my parents about Ronan, and by some incredible miracle, none of my uncles or nosy brothers had mentioned him either. I suppose they all knew that I’d never forgive them if they ruined this thing I had going before it really got started.

Not that my dad would ruin it, but he might dampen the moment, this lovely beginning between Ronan and me. I was in this euphoric, joyful, exciting place. And though I’d experienced this sort of excitement at the beginning of other relationships, nothing and no one had compared to this. I wanted Ronan all to myself for a little longer before I had to deal with my parents. Well, mostly my dad. He always meant well, but I just didn’t want to take the chance of anything spoiling this for me right now.

“Send me the address.” He eased closer, pressing one last kiss to my mouth. “I’ll see you there,” he promised.

I nodded. “Walk me to my car?”

“Of course.” He offered his arm along the grass trail to the garage. “I don’t want to get you any dirtier with my hands. ”

“I really like the way you get me dirty with your hands.” I nudged his arm with my shoulder. “And your mouth.”

“Celine,” he warned.

I laughed. “You’re actually blushing,” I accused.

“No way. I don’t blush.”

But he totally was, and I loved it.

He didn’t take me back through the garage, thankfully. I didn’t want any side-eyed looks or grins from the guys. When we got to my Honda, he opened the door for me, and I slid in.

“I met your brother Joaquin,” he said abruptly.

“What? He didn’t say anything to me. When was this?”

“Yesterday.”

“How was he?” My stomach clenched, wondering what Joaquin said to him.

“Better than I expected actually.” He chuckled, holding my door open. “I met your cousin Samara too. She was really cool.”

“Yeah, she is.”

For the first time, I thought maybe my family was going to behave completely normal about me dating a rather rough-around-the-edges werewolf.

“See you tomorrow night, babe,” he said casually as he leaned down and pecked my lips before shutting the door.

A giddy excitement thrilled through me at his casual and perfectly natural use of the endearment babe. Like it belonged on his lips and only when he addressed me.

I watched in the rearview as he stood in the gravel drive, then finally turned and headed back to the garage.

“Can’t wait,” I said, smiling at his retreating reflection, “babe.”