27 Roman
Roman
“You’re back… again.” Alec sighed as I stepped into the clearing. My walk had led me to the same place my runs did, and I’d stumbled upon the same faces.
At least this time, Alec wasn’t snarling at me. She, and Coral, and even Alpha Kera sat vigil by the fire outside the cave. Exhaustion hunched their shoulders and slowed their reaction times.
I’d like to say I had great instincts, so that’s how I knew something truly serious was happening, but at this point, it was obvious.
“What’s wrong with Meg?” I asked, feeling drawn to that darkened cave in a way I couldn’t comprehend.
Smile lines softened Beta Coral’s face. “Megaera is in heat.”
Alec and Kera shared a long, pointed look.
I scratched the back of my head, searching for an understanding of that word. Our knowledge of female shifters was limited at best. I knew they carried births like human women, but I assumed heat meant… procreating during certain times of the month.
That made my stomach churn, to think of her in there, with someone else. If it took this long, was she being used? Hurt? Having the time of her life while we waited out here?
Anger had me gritting my teeth.
“Is it supposed to take this long?” My voice sounded cold, even to my own ears.
Coral shook her head. “No. It’s… complicated. She needs help.”
“Then help her,” I snapped, sick at the thought that they’d been here for days when Meg obviously needed something.
“We’ve tried that already.” Alec cocked an eyebrow. “Perhaps you should give it a shot.”
“Enough,” Kera growled softly, causing the hairs on the back of my neck to rise.
“What?” Alec glared at her. “He obviously keeps coming around for a reason.”
“She doesn’t want anyone to know,” Coral whispered. She and Kera stared at Alec.
Meg’s sister glared right back. “Sometimes even fate needs a helping hand.”
I left them to the argument, my feet moving me before I had a chance to think it through. They hadn’t fought my arrival this time, and that was all the invitation I needed to check on Meg.
I convinced myself that it was for the mission. We’d gotten word that we could return to the city, and had to lie to Justus and stall because of whatever was happening in that cave.
But the whimpers coming from inside had my heart racing. Ashamed to say, I imagined the worst. That she’d be pinned under some male wolf and I’d need to save her. Or that she’d scream in my face, telling me to get out.
I caught myself wishing I had a weapon as I took one last look at the women sitting by the fire. They made no move to stop me, and I had to assume they wouldn’t be sending me into an enemy situation.
Or Coral wouldn’t.
I was still on the fence about the other two.
Something between a whimper and a cry came again. I took a deep breath as I pushed open the flap to the cave and stopped short of entering fully.
There, in the low light of a lantern, Meg lay on a bed of furs in what could only be described as a porno image pulled straight from the depths of my darkest dreams.
She sat up at my arrival, hair spilling over her shoulders and caressing the tops of her breasts. Her nipples had hardened into pretty peaks I ached to tease, and her thighs fell open, revealing dark hair glistening with need.
Meg’s skin was flushed and her eyes looked wild. I’d expected to come upon a wolf, but found this feral beauty instead. And I couldn’t help the way my cock hardened painfully.
I forced myself to look away. “They said…”
“Roman.” The way she spoke my name, half prayer, half plea. My eyes shot to her face.
“You shouldn’t be here.” She licked her lips.
I was mesmerized by the sight. “What do you need?”
“You,” she whispered.
A thousand reasons for why this was a bad idea flew straight out of my head. Blood rushed to my loins instead of my brain as I made it to the side of her bed.
Justus should be the one here. I spat out that vile thought just as quickly as it came, kneeling beside Meg.
“What can I do to help?” My throat dried as I asked.
Her pulse quickened, fluttering against the junction of her neck, and she closed her eyes. “Touch me.”
I dragged my hand over my mouth, silencing the voices screaming in my head as Meg’s legs parted wider and she arched her back. Her tanned skin was slicked with sweat. Her scent so damn sweet.
I searched her face as she opened her eyes again. “Are you sure?”
Because I wasn’t.
I’d never seen Meg this raw and vulnerable before. Did she know what was happening? Did I? Some instinctual knowledge told me I’d been blessed to stumble into something sacred. A female wolf shifter’s heat.
“Please,” she begged. “I need you.”
She needed me.
That’s all this was.
Any gentleman would step in to help during a situation like this. Though the thought of anyone else touching her sent a possessive wave of jealousy through me that I had no right to feel.
I cupped the side of her cheek, turning her face so that her gaze bore into mine. “Say the word, and I’ll stop.”
Her frustrated laugh urged me on.
I let my eyes roam over her body, drinking my fill, as my fingers traced down her side, over the edge of her ribs, the soft curve of her breast. Her skin pebbled under my touch.
Meg shivered, speaking through clenched teeth. “I’m not made of glass.”
I threaded my fingers through the coarse hair at the apex of her thighs, giving it a tug that elicited a gasp.
“You’re bossy for someone asking for my help,” I smirked.
She growled at me, but the way her gaze turned molten had my cock twitching painfully.
I returned my focus to her needs.
My thumb found her clit and I parted her sex, groaning when I felt how warm and wet she already was.
“Right there,” Meg hissed, closing her eyes.
I smiled when she turned to putty under my touch. Her back arched as I cupped my palm, finding the spot inside that made her quiver. I took her harder, learning what she liked as her legs began to shake, and her walls tightened around my fingers.
I didn’t expect her to fall apart so quickly.
She screamed my name, and pride filled me, as Meg came undone in the palm of my hand. I’d been the one she needed. It was me she wanted.
And that thought was foolish.
Dangerous.
I knew better than to want what I couldn’t have.
But I was merciless as I took her orgasm over the edge, knowing that I wanted her to feel me the next time she ever needed help like this, and I wasn’t done yet.
If this was all I’d get, then I planned to taste her. To imprint the smell of her on my skin. She cried out with loss until I buried my face between her legs and replaced my fingers with my tongue.
So sweet. Just how I knew she would be.
I lapped up that sweetness, eating like a man starving, and tried to devour her whole.
Meg’s breath came faster as her nails dug into my shoulders.
Good. I wanted to wear her marks. Some sort of proof that this was truly happening when I woke up tomorrow morning to find out this was only a dream.
“Roman…” She panted, tightening around my tongue as I sucked on her clit. “Stop. Please.”
I pulled back immediately, panting as her essence coated my face.
“Is that all you needed?” I don’t know how I managed to sound so professional when every part of my being was screaming to throw caution to the wind. That now, in this moment, was the first time I’d ever lived, and I couldn’t let anything take it away.
Not without a fight.
“No.” Meg’s eyes were blown wide with desire as she growled, “I need more.”