Prologue #2
“I know.” His certainty surprised her. It also settled some of her nerves. “You’re a reserved woman.” He feathered his fingers over her hair. “A man would be lucky to have a woman like you.”
The words were balm to her battered soul, even though they were likely nothing more than a line to get her into bed. Even knowing that, she didn’t leave.
He straightened and captured her in his dark gaze. “What’s it going to be?”
She put up the window and turned off the ignition. He opened the door and held out his hand.
****
What the hell was he doing? As a bounty hunter and tracker—not to mention a werewolf—he was well acquainted with danger, and what he was about to do was not only risky but irresponsible.
He’d finished a job earlier today and was on his way home to Kentucky.
By rights, he shouldn’t have stopped for a drink, should have kept driving.
At twenty-two, Cyrus Sin was the eldest of seven boys, and guardian for his six younger siblings. Had been for the past four years. His entire life was a never-ending cycle of work and responsibility. He didn’t resent it, but it did get tiring from time to time.
Just one night. It wasn’t too much to ask. He’d talked to his brother Josiah, who was twenty and capable of holding things together a while longer. Things were fine at home.
When she put her hand in his, Cyrus knew there was no way in hell he was leaving until he’d made love to her.
Carefully folding his fingers around hers, he led her to his room.
It wasn’t anything special. It was cheap but clean.
More importantly, it had a bed. He’d stopped long enough to check in and dump his bag earlier, anticipating crashing after a couple of drinks.
Bringing a woman back hadn’t been on his radar.
She hovered inside the door, eyes darting around, landing on everything but the bed. With a sigh, he sank down on the edge of the mattress and pulled her over to stand in front of him.
He’d seen more beautiful women, but he’d never come across one that captivated him so easily without even trying.
Her thick black hair was cut short with feathered bangs, the style emphasizing her high cheekbones, thin nose, full lips, and slightly pointed chin.
The dark mossy green eyes gave her a mystical, almost otherworldly appearance.
She was tall for a woman, but at just shy of six and a half feet, he towered over her.
He didn’t need his werewolf preternatural senses to tell him she was having second thoughts. This wasn’t a woman who went to motel rooms with random strangers she met in a bar any more than he was.
“It’s okay,” he murmured. Primal desire gripped him, but somehow he dug down and found a well of patience he hadn’t known existed.
“I have no idea what I’m doing here.”
He caught one of her hands and brought it to his lips. “You want me. I want you. It’s as simple as that.” As a wolf, there was no room in his life for a human woman, even if he were so inclined.
She gave a ragged laugh. “Maybe it should be, but it’s not. I don’t even know your name.” Before he could give it, she pressed her fingers against his mouth. “If we’re doing this, we keep it simple. I don’t know you. You don’t know me. We’ll never see each other again after tonight.”
His stomach clenched and a strange pain pierced his chest, but he nodded. “Agreed.” He’d agree to damn near anything if it would keep her here.
She took a step back, bent down, and unlaced her boots.
He followed suit, letting her take the lead.
It was a novel experience. The rare time he spent the night with a woman, it was usually one who knew the score and wanted the same thing he did—sexual release.
This was somehow different. She was different.
Unease washed over him, but he shoved it aside, unwilling to delve too deeply into his motivation. He wanted her, plain and simple. It didn’t have to be more complicated than that.
Boots and socks off, he pulled her back between his legs and slid his hands beneath her shirt, finding warm bare skin.
Her breathing hitched, and he caught the faint scent of her arousal.
His dick throbbing, he pulled her down onto his lap facing him, dug his hands into her hair, and kissed her.
Intoxicated, he delved into her mouth wanting more, wanting everything she’d give him.
One night would never be enough, but it was all they had. He wanted to curse the whims of fate that had made him stop in this small town even as he wanted to praise them.
Her tongue stroked his as she met the force of his passion. She tugged at his shirt, dragging it up, forcing him to release her long enough to discard it. When her hands touched his bare skin, he wanted to howl. Panting heavily, he nipped at the curve of her throat.
“Let’s get this off you.” He eased her shirt up and off.
Her bra was plain white cotton with no adornment.
She didn’t need any. Her breasts were full and firm, demanding his attention.
He buried his faced between them and inhaled her unique fragrance, a combination of salty sweat with a hint of vanilla and honey.
Her nipples were sharply outlined against the thin fabric.
He covered one with his mouth and sucked.
“Oh, God. That feels incredible.”
Banding an arm around her, he stood in one easy motion, taking her with him. He laid her down on the bed and followed, supporting his weight on his forearms. Their bodies aligned, his erection pressing against her mound, their jeans no barrier to pleasure.
The only illumination was that seeping in from the security lights outside.
With his superior senses, he could see her much better than she could him.
He committed every detail to memory, knowing he’d replay this night over and over.
His fingers shook when he undid her bra and eased it down her arms. He, who dealt with hardened criminals without qualm, was being turned inside out by this woman.
If this was to be the only night he had with her, he’d make the most of it. He cupped her breasts, learning their shape, teasing the taut tips with his thumbs. Arousal bloomed, surrounding them in the intoxicating scent.
He kissed and licked a path to her waistband and undid the single metal button. Taking his time, he lowered the zipper, exposing a swath of smooth skin and white cotton panties. When he glanced up, she was watching him, her chest rising and falling with every breath she took.
She reached down and shoved at her jeans.
Following her cue, he yanked them off, along with the underwear.
Her scent was driving him insane. He had to taste her.
Keeping his own pants on for the time being, he scooted along the bed and ended up kneeling on the floor and pulling her down so he could reach her.
There were no words spoken as he stroked the insides of her thighs and pushed them open.
They were two strangers, but even they understood this was something special.
When he put his mouth to her, a low growl escaped him, but it was lost in her cry of pleasure.
Driven by a need he couldn’t explain, he licked and sucked, learning what made her moan and what made her sigh.
His balls almost exploded when he tested her readiness and found her hot and wet and tight.
He yanked off his jeans and dug in his wallet for the condom he kept there for emergencies.
Not that he needed it, but she wasn’t likely to let him make love to her without it.
As a werewolf, he carried no sexually transmitted diseases, and the chances of him fathering a child with a human were almost nonexistent.
Ignoring the sudden empty ache in his chest, he lifted her higher on the bed and notched the head of his cock against her. He hesitated, poised at her opening. She wrapped her legs around his thighs and pulled him toward her.
Cyrus sank into her one slow inch at a time, praying he wouldn’t disgrace himself and come before he was all the way in.
Her inner muscles fluttered and tightened around his shaft making the task more difficult.
When he was finally seated to the hilt, a sense of rightness washed over him, immediately followed by an almost mindless hunger.
He began to move, thrusting hard. She clung to him, her nails digging into his shoulders and back.
He angled his body so his pelvis brushed her clit with each inward stroke.
“Yes. Yes. Yes,” she chanted. He longed to hear her say his name, but they’d made a deal and he’d abide by it.
Sweat dripping from his brow, their bodies moved in tandem in a dance as old as time, her sighs and moans their music.
Her entire body tensed, the telltale flutters of her core announcing her release.
He drove home one final time, gritted his teeth to keep from howling, and came.
Driven by instinct, he nipped at her neck.
When she cried out and he tasted blood, he pulled back.
What the hell?
Collapsing on top of her, he sucked air into his starving lungs.
The base of his shaft swelled, as it did with his kind, locking him inside her.
He eased most of his weight off her and licked at the minor wound at the curve of her neck, ignoring the zing that shot through his entire body.
It wasn’t a mating mark. Not nearly deep enough, but she would be stuck with a hickey for the foreseeable future.
Cursing himself, he pulled out as soon as he was able. “I’ll be right back.” He stumbled to the bathroom and gripped the edges of the sink, breathing heavily. He’d never come so close to losing it before. Blood pounded in his ears, blocking out all other sounds.
The biggest rule of their kind, one that had been driven home by both parents from the time he was born until they’d died, was that humans could never know about them. It was what kept their species safe and alive. And he’d come damn close to breaking it.
The muscles in his shoulders eventually unknotted and he pulled himself under control.
For a man whose entire life was steeped in discipline, to say tonight had been disconcerting was an understatement.
Lifting his head, he stared at his reflection.
He had no idea how much time had passed, how long he’d been in here, but the silence was deafening.
Swearing, he yanked open the door and stalked into the other room.
It was empty. She was gone. Cyrus dragged his fingers through his hair.
Fur rippled on his arms, his wolf wanting out to chase after her.
The pressure in his chest built until he dropped down on the bed.
Her scent permeated the room. He could taste her on his lips.
Sleep was out of the question. There was also the possibility he’d do something stupid like track her down if he stayed. Responsibilities settled back on his shoulders. His brothers were waiting for him.
After a final glance at the bed, he went to the bathroom and turned on the shower. When he went to remove the condom, he swore. It had broken. He tossed it in the wastepaper basket unconcerned. It had been for show anyway, not necessity. She might stress about it if she realized, but she’d be fine.
Within ten minutes, he’d showered, packed, checked out, and was on the way to Kentucky with the memory of his mystery woman permanently burned in his brain.