Chapter 17 #2
“First, we know someone is after her. Are Laura and Charlie aware of the problems?”
“They are.”
Jacey nodded approval. “You were right to bring Maia here. It will allow her to settle and give you time together. You’ll see if she fits. I like her, Henry. You can be a grumpy sod while she is a ray of sunshine. She’ll pry you out of your rut.”
“Thanks, I think.”
Jacey clapped him over the back. “I’ll help you feed the dogs, and we’ll go inside and relax with our family. Movie night tonight.”
His dad was right. When he and Jacey reentered the house, the three women were chatting while preparing dinner. Levi was holding the puppy, stroking her while doing his reading homework with Gerard.
Henry’s gaze went straight to Maia. She appeared relaxed and happy, laughing as much as London and Megan.
“Dad, we’re having pizza tonight, and then we’re watching a movie!” Levi shouted.
The puppy yelped, and Levi immediately soothed her, calming her before Henry could chide his younger brother for shouting.
“Hey, what did I say about using your inside voice?” Megan said.
“Sorry.” Levi went back to his reading aloud.
The evening gave Henry a glimpse of an enticing yet scary future. He had to remember Maia was safe with his family, and second, they knew someone was messing with her. They wouldn’t let down their guard.
During the movie, Henry wrapped his arm around her shoulders, drawing her against him. She settled without complaint, and Henry spent the entire time savoring her warm weight against him. Maia yawned as the closing credits ran, and Henry stood.
“Good night,” he said. “Maia needs her sleep.”
“I can stay up longer,” she protested.
“No, Henry is right,” Megan said. “You need to get on top of your headaches, and sleep will help.”
“Good night,” Maia murmured, her protests ceasing.
Henry directed her out of the den toward his room. He shouldered open his bedroom door and closed it after them.
“They’re right. I am tired,” Maia said with a yawn.
“Then come to bed.”
“It’s still early,” she complained.
“I want to be with you,” Henry said, halting further protests by kissing her.
“Mmm,” she said. “Perhaps I’m not as tired as I thought.”
Henry drew off her sweatshirt and the T-shirt she wore beneath.
Soon, she was naked, and he lifted her, carrying her to the bed.
He scrambled out of his clothes, tossing them on the floor, which he wouldn’t normally do.
Right now, he craved touch. He wanted Maia in his arms. Reassurance they trod the same path.
Maia ran her hands over his shoulders and kissed his neck. Every part of him pulled tight at the innocent touch on his marking site. If Maia had been a wolf, this was where she’d bite to claim him as his mate. Eventually, he’d claim Maia in this manner once he’d told her about his otherness.
“I like your muscles,” she said with another yawn.
“I like your curves,” he countered, and she laughed.
They kissed lazily, their mouths mating and tongues tangling as their passion rose. Henry caressed her body, savoring every possessive stroke while his inner wolf reveled in touching and taking on her scent and her taking on his.
Their lovemaking was languid, with no urgency, just a shared need for each other. After ensuring she was ready, he grabbed a condom from his nightstand and rolled it on.
“Thank you,” she said. “I’m on contraception but appreciate the extra safeguard.”
He kissed the tip of her nose. “Protecting you is no hardship. I want you to return to the team and earn your place in the starting fifteen. We want nothing to impede that.” And he meant every word.
No matter how careful a couple was, an accidental pregnancy was always a possibility.
He didn’t want that for them. He wanted Maia to follow her dreams. It was the least he could do.
Henry parted her legs with his knee and kissed her deeply before he situated himself and pushed inside her searing heat. He set a slow pace, savoring her and the way she clung to him, making him feel as if he were the most important man in her life.
The only man.
His wolf’s growl rippled through his mind, loud and possessive. For a moment, he wondered if the sound had been audible when Maia’s nails dug into his shoulders. She trembled, and his strokes faltered.
“Henry, don’t stop. Please.”
His next kiss was fierce and full of yearning. He wanted this woman at his side. Maia was determined, and his grumpy nature didn’t faze her. She challenged him, made him want more. She filled the dark places in his soul.
He resumed his rhythm, taking cues from how she moved against him.
He kissed her neck, his teeth grazing her skin, and this time, it was he who trembled when she dragged her tongue over the mating site.
He wanted to claim her with every fiber of his being.
Henry forced himself to lift his head and kiss her shoulder instead.
He’d never dishonor himself in that way. Maia needed facts and, at the right time—the truth.
“Henry, where is your mind drifting? Focus.” Her eyes were enormous and almost black in the room’s darkness.
“I don’t want to lose you,” he confessed, because that was the root of his thoughts. He’d lost Jenny and couldn’t lose Maia to a madman as well. “Recent events have me concerned.”
“They disturb me too, but let’s make love and forget our problems.”
He kissed the spot between her eyes where worry dug into her forehead. “Sorry. I won’t let it happen again.”
“See you don’t.”
Henry claimed her mouth, kissing her slowly and thoroughly.
She sighed, her fingers digging into his biceps.
He surged into her, this time allowing the sensations to sweep him away.
Her touch. Her heat. Her decadent scent.
He adored everything about this woman, and she seemed to return the sentiment.
His measured thrusts into her body stimulated her pleasure.
This time, they both shuddered, and Maia gasped.
Her warm flesh clung to his cock, clasping and clenching as she hurtled into pleasure.
She arched into him, letting him slide deep, and then he was gone too, incinerated and turned inside out, his growl of satisfaction more wolflike than he preferred.
Maia stilled against him, and Henry tensed, waiting for questions. Instead, Maia laughed, her body shaking against his.
“You’ve been spending too much time with your dogs. You even growl like them.”
Henry released a relieved sigh and gave in to the urge to kiss her again.
He couldn’t get enough of her mouth. Long moments later, he separated their bodies and rose to deal with the condom.
When he returned to the bed, Maia was sound asleep.
Her lips curved in a soft smile, and her hair fanned across his pillow.
She looked like a perfect angel. His angel—as long as he didn’t make any mistakes.