Chapter 41 #2
The moment drains of all apprehension, turning into something lovely.
Together, we sit there, and as I calmly stroke his coat, I tilt my head back to gaze up at the night sky.
The stars shine brightly here in a way they never managed in the light-polluted East Coast where I was raised.
Still, they aren’t as brilliant as they could be, with the moon approaching its full phase.
A few more nights, and Roderick will lead his pack on a run.
The thought steals some of my comfort, and I hate the reaction. One minute, I’m overcoming a fear I thought would forever be ingrained in my soul. The next second, I’m stumbling backward into the dark part of my brain that warns me against trusting one of his kind again.
Gods, I hate this constant turmoil. When will my life settle? Or did I give that option up the day I crossed into Bear Valley?
Cold bites my cheeks, and I realize my skin is damp from tears.
Somehow sensing my distress, the wolf lifts his head and steps away.
“Come back! I swear I won’t cry on you.” With hurried strokes, I wipe at my cheeks, then realize I’m using the sleeves of his sweatshirt to soak up all the salty dampness.
“I promise I’ll wash this too.” My voice comes out hoarse, and my throat feels thick as I swallow, and I just want my warm wolf back and to forget the past.
There’s a popping in my ears, and suddenly, a set of strong arms scoops me up. Roderick sits his bare ass on the porch and settles me in his lap.
“What’s wrong?” His voice still holds a touch of growl.
“Nothing.” I grind my teeth, not liking the idea of lying to him. “Nothing to do with you,” I amend. “My mind just went to a bad place. But that’s not your fault.”
“My wolf scared you.” He doesn’t even form it as a question, and his complete disregard for what I just said has my anger prickling.
“No.” I grasp his jaw, forcing his eyes to meet mine.
“Your wolf is a handsome creature and has a very warm head. All pluses in my book.” My fingers gentle, tracing over the beginning of a beard that has sprouted since his morning shave.
“I meant what I said. I just got sucked into a bad memory. But I’m happy right now.
Here with you.” Leaning up, I brush my lips against his in a gentle tease.
“I’d be even happier with you in my bed. ”
A moment of hesitation, and then Roderick is on his feet, charging for the back door.
“Unlock it,” he growls.
Fishing my keys from my purse, I do. The alarm blares to life, and Roderick carries me straight to the keypad, not bothering to set me down, even as I type in the code.
The minute the beeping shuts off, we’re back through the kitchen and into my bedroom, where I get tossed onto my mattress, laughing as I bounce on the soft surface.
With swift, sure movements, Roderick divests me of Tanya’s sneakers, his sweatshirt, and my dress. Since he’s already naked, I have a clear view of just how much he’s looking forward to what’s coming next.
I reach for him, but he grabs my wrist.
“Let me take care of you, Juliet.”
He wants to go down on me? Who am I to deny the man what he wants?
“If you insist,” I say, doing nothing to stifle my wicked grin. Then I plop back on my covers and let my knees fall open, feeling wanton in the position.
In the dim light of my bedroom, I can’t see if the werewolf’s eyes have gone black. But I do see the way he licks his lips, as if eager to consume me. Strong fingers grasp the waistband of my lacy thong, tugging the strip of fabric down my legs before tossing it to the floor.
Roderick leans over me, nuzzling his nose against my neck, scenting me, then pressing a hot kiss against my collarbone.
His mouth trails slowly down from that point, pausing to suck on my beaded nipples, tonguing the tight points until he earns a whimper from me.
Then he descends further, dipping his tongue into my belly button.
As my hips begin to writhe in a silent plea, two heavy hands hold me down, fingers digging into my thighs.
“Lick me,” I beg him. “I need it.”
The bastard chuckles, and I find my fingers clawing into my comforter to keep from shoving his head south.
I’m a second away from cursing him or maybe begging again when I finally feel a touch against my center.
Two fingers spread my folds, and a moment later, there’s pressure against my opening.
His tongue. Roderick is teasing me with his gloriously talented tongue, and my hips are back to jerking in frustrated pleasure.
Everything he’s doing feels so good, setting my nerves to buzzing, making my muscles clench in preparation for a climax. One that hovers, just out of reach, because he’s not touching me in the one spot I need to fall over that edge.
“My clit!” I gasp as he sinks a finger inside me.
“What about it?” he asks, as if he doesn’t know.
I prop myself on my elbows to glare down at where he rests between my thighs, leisurely stroking his touch in and out.
“Do you need some help finding it?” I try to sound playfully taunting, but really, I’m just needy and breathless.
I want that pleasure from Roderick. I want the goodness of this night to outshine every dark shadow of my past.
Show me what I could have. Give me everything to fix myself.
Firm lips wrap around my clit and suck. Hard. And he doesn’t stop until my body cracks to pieces. Good thing my house is so far from everything because I scream like a woman getting murdered. Every muscle tenses and releases, the ecstasy flowing through me.
Roderick leaves off, climbing onto the bed beside me, grabbing a condom from my bedside table before gathering me to his chest, holding me steady.
Quivers are still shaking through me when Roderick draws my leg over his hip.
Gently, as if worried I might shatter if he moves too fast, Roderick pushes his thick length inside me.
The fullness sets off aftershocks that have me wondering if I’m going to immediately come again.
With a man between my legs that can turn into a literal animal anytime he wants, I fully expect him to go wild right now. To drive himself deep, pound into me relentlessly.
But he doesn’t. Roderick’s thrusts could be described as leisurely. Tilting my head back to meet his eyes, I find that the stony, emotionless expression he most often sports is nowhere to be found.
His gaze is intense, holding a mess of emotions I can’t begin to decipher.
Do I even want to?
My own tangle of uncertainty has me burying my face in the man’s neck. I don’t want him to see something I’m not sure I’m ready to admit to.
Everything between us is intense. Heavy. As he slides out of me, I fight the rabid urge to dig my nails into his ass and demand he stay inside. Not that he’s fully leaving when, a second later, he’s sliding home again.
The steadiness of his movements, the puff of his breath, the strain in the muscle at his neck do things to me. Things that feel good. Things that scare me.
Suddenly, a surge of panic rises in my chest. Not enough to cause an attack, but enough that I’m desperate for a way to regain my control. Driving my palms into his chest and giving a mighty flex of my thighs, I shove Roderick on his back and straddle him.
“Juliet.” He groans my name as I rock my hips.
And just as quickly as I felt myself detaching from this experience, I am right back in it.
My werewolf cups my ass, helping me move up and down his length. With one hand braced on his chest, I sneak the other down to my pleasure spot. My clit is too sensitive from my first orgasm to be touched directly, so instead, I just cup myself, spreading the pressure.
That’s exactly what I need.
“You close?” Roderick’s voice is hoarse as he stares up at me. “ ’Cause I can’t hold back much longer.”
“Almost there,” I pant. Just need the steady motion, the perfect sensation set on repeat.
So close. Just one … more … second …
This time, I don’t have enough air to scream. All that makes it out is a choked gasp. Luckily, Roderick follows close after with a string of muttered cursing. I collapse over his chest, and his arms clutch me to him with an almost-desperate embrace.
Then, all the tension drains out of his body, his lungs releasing air in a deep sigh, bringing with it one word.
“Mine.”