Chapter 5 #2
“Deal.” The role playing was a little too easy, or maybe I was just in the mood to be playful. I threw out my hand and he responded, grabbing mine, the handshake firm. Suddenly I was swept with explosive sensations.
“You drive a hard bargain, lady.”
“And you’re a hot-blooded wolf.” Freeing my hand, I took a step away mostly because I was far too attracted to him and this interaction could go terribly wrong.
“Now that is an accurate statement.” He also backed away, the great big man scanning both sides of the sidewalk. When we both heard a sound, he tipped his head. “Coyote.”
“Really? Are you certain?” I instantly glanced toward the mountains, the mournful sound nothing I heard in the heart of Chicago.
“I am a wolf. I know canines.”
“I’d almost forgotten. Is he a big, bad coyote?” I’d only met a couple of shifters in the years since they’d come out in public, the meetings nothing out of the ordinary. Maybe that’s why I hadn’t asked him any questions about being a shifter and what it meant while playing hockey.
Beck had a way of zoning out of the moment. “He lost his mate. She was his entire world and now he doesn’t know what he’s going to do without her.”
“Oh, my God. You’re kidding me? What happened?” I was completely heartbroken hearing that. Without realizing it, I took a few steps toward the mountains, gazing at the shadowed landscape.
A few seconds later and after not having heard a sound, I twisted my body to find him in a full-blown grin.
“You beast. You have no clue about the coyote. Right?” I accused.
“Well, the cry is a warning, but I have a feeling he is a she and telling the world to stay away from her cub. No, I don’t speak coyote or hyena or whatever creature you might pick like some humans think. Like I’m an animal whisperer because of my heritage.”
“Ah, now, I’m disappointed. I’m not going to write the interview any longer.” I don’t know what possessed me with the man. All I knew is that for the first time in months, I was enjoying myself. Which was why I walked up the first stair, acting as if I was ghosting him.
Maybe I should have learned he was unpredictable by this point.
But I hadn’t.
When he grabbed my arm, pulling me toward him, the surprise was enough as soon as I was driven into the heat of his body, I pressed my other palm against his chest.
I’d had men pretend they were an alpha male before, but on every occasion, I’d been incensed to the point of turning them down for future dates.
For whatever reason, the act of dominance with this man brought out a different set of emotions as well as needs.
I was aroused, the ache in my pussy that I’d felt in the bar more overpowering. Breathless, a hint of being lightheaded cascaded through every cell in my brain. I was on my tiptoes, leaning against him.
He took a deep breath while peering down at me. His eyes hooded. His chest rising and falling. “You should know better than to try and outsmart a wolf.” Deep and husky, his voice created one too many tingling sensations that shifted into my core.
There was no doubt he could tell how much the closeness affected me.
“Why is that?”
“Isn’t it obvious? Because we’re damn good in a hunt.”
He lowered his head just as he’d done inside the bar, only everything was different even if I couldn’t explain what I was thinking.
His hand was along my neck, cradling the back of my head. With his eyes narrowed, now I sensed he was asking the same question.
Were we about to make a big mistake?
Once again, I was certain he was going to kiss me, but he refrained, letting me go. “Be careful. I wouldn’t want you to trip.”
“Don’t worry. My tennis shoes will save me.”
“At least you’ll get a head start on any coyote chasing you.”
Nodding, I headed to the stairs, jogging the steps. When I reached the door, I finally turned around to toss out another quick barb when I realized he’d disappeared. I lingered right there, standing in front of the door as if disappointed he’d left.
Who was I kidding? I was disappointed. I hoisted the laptop bag and reached into my pocket, pulling out the suite’s keycard. As soon as the light turned green and when I had my hand on the handle, I realized I wasn’t alone.
His presence created a wave of excitement unlike anything I’d felt before.
The atmosphere was suddenly warped, the change subtle yet powerful.
A sudden stillness like a forest just before a spring storm.
My breath hitched and I wondered why all throughout the evening I’d felt so undeniably drawn to him.
He placed his hand on mine on the door handle, both turning the piece of brass until the door opened. The man radiated a level of heat that made no sense and being this close felt as if I was standing next to a live wire in the very storm I’d thought of earlier.
There were no words needed, no desire to waste any further time talking or bantering.
When he pushed the door open, he peered down at me with the same unspoken question as I’d seen before.
Only there was a significant difference.
He wasn’t interested in taking no for an answer.
With his arm wrapped around my waist, he walked us inside, kicking the door shut, immediately pulling the strap off my shoulder.
After checking in, I’d left a couple of lights on, which allowed me to see the intense look on his face.
Whereas on the ice, he’d appeared fierce, even larger than life, his true masculinity was now on full display.
So was his sexual prowess.
With the way he was holding me, I felt as if I was walking on air, floating and protected by a predator who would never allow anything to happen to me.
The notion was as unusual as the fantasy we’d found ourselves in and perhaps I was overthinking what was about to happen.
In another moment where I was certain he was reading my mind, a slow but starkly seductive smile crossed his face.
There was complete silence other than the raging thump of my heart echoing in my ears. In those few powerful seconds, the silence stretched on too long, the anticipation unlike anything I’d ever felt.
And before I had a chance to change my mind, he fisted a handful of my hair with more purpose than before.
Then he kissed me.