Chapter 17
Harkin feeding me a rabbit he’d killed as his wolf.
The reflexive shiver as the blood trickled into my mouth.
My clit throbbed as he stared at the crimson dripping off my lips and chin.
I’ve been around for almost a hundred years and had never experienced anything like it.
His scent had already become increasingly potent as of late, but after that?
The urge to surround myself with his scent had been impossible to ignore.
His comforter, soft, delicious, and warm, had to be wrapped around me.
Based on the shocked expression on Harkin’s face when he saw it, he probably thought I was the equivalent of a deranged bat.
“Is this weird? Why do you have that look on your face?” I scratched Waffles’ head when he leapt into my lap and frowned at my wolf.
Harkin stood still with the bag held in the air by three fingers. “Nah, sweetcheeks. Not weird at all.”
I rested my forearms on the couch’s back. “Then why are you frozen like a corpse?”
“Didn’t expect it—” Harkin forced a cough and lowered his arm. “—is all.”
“We can put it back.” Moving to do just that, I halted when Harkin blurted.
“No.” His hands darted out, the bag swaying. “It can stay right there. There are plenty of blankets.”
More blankets? Would they smell like him or more like fabric softener?
“What’s in the bag?” I propped my chin on my hand, changing the subject for now.
Harkin blew out a raspy breath. “Kaida took the first watch. Said it was something for you.” He held it out to me.
“A present?” I grinned, wriggling my fingers before snatching it. Snapping the bag open, I removed a black T-shirt, displayed it, and giggled.
“What’s it say?”
“Love bites, but so do I.”
Harkin poked the back of the shirt. “The back of it says Halestorm. Ain’t that a band?”
“It is indeed. I fucking love this. And she didn’t even realize I’m a nerd for gimmicks.” After hugging the shirt to my chest, I folded it over the couch.
“She took a likin’ to you pretty damn fast.”
I reached for his hand, tugging him closer once he took it. “Does that really surprise you?”
“You are amazing. But you’re also a vampire, a female, and someone new.” Harkin held up a finger for each implication. “Three things Kaida has a hard time warmin’ up to.”
“Maybe I was sent here to bring harmony.” I’d said it sarcastically, playfully flicking my nail over the hair on Harkin’s stomach. I paused when his face did that shocked, deer in headlights stare. “Harkin?”
“Sorry,” he mumbled, shaking his head with his eyes closed. “Got lost in thought.”
As I lowered my mouth, my lips forming a malicious smile, I found the tip of Harkin’s cock and ran my tongue across it.
He groaned, his eyes instantly flashing open.
Harkin gazed down as I took him into my mouth, letting my teeth graze over the velvety skin.
It took all of five seconds to make him rock hard.
Harkin slid his hand into my hair, moaning as I bobbed my head, sucking, licking, and light nips with my fangs. “You need something from me?”
Pulling my lips from his cock, I rose to my knees. “Again and again and again until you’re begging me for a break.”
“Ain’t gonna happen, pumpkin.” He grabbed the back of my neck and bent low to kiss me. “You’ve never experienced alpha stamina.”
As if perceiving what was about to transpire, Waffles scurried into the kitchen.
Harkin leapt over the couch, pouncing on top of me.
I let out a laughing shriek. He pressed most of his body weight into me, only holding some of it with his elbows.
The wolf’s proof of how huge he really was, how powerful.
If I could die this way from masculine suffocation, it would be a blissful death.
Beneath him, Harkin pinned my legs together, and I couldn’t pry them apart if I tried.
He lifted some of his weight, sliding a knee between my thighs, and using it to hitch one of them toward my ribs.
Torturously slow, he pushed himself inside, keeping our looks fixed.
My hands wriggled at my sides, begging to touch him, to rake my nails over his chest. Harkin lifted his hips higher, freeing my hands, but immediately pinned them above my head with one of his massive paws.
My fangs sprang out with a defiant hiss.
“Easy now. You just let me give you what you need,” Harkin growled, nuzzling his nose at the corner of my jaw.
Need? What I needed was to touch him, to scratch him to—
Harkin stole my thoughts away when he rolled his hips a different way that plunged his cock deeper. The pressure against that spot had me digging my nails into my palms.
“Gods, yes,” I moaned. “That’s what I need, wolf.”
“See?” Harkin teased, doing a wolfish growl into my hair, the baritone of it vibrating against my ear.
He scraped his canines over my neck, lapping that spot with his tongue several times, but still never bit. If he hadn’t been making me delirious with pleasure, I would’ve whined for it. Something thicker swelled that I hadn’t felt the first time, making me gasp.
Harkin grunted. He pressed our foreheads together. “Come for me, Rory.”
I fluttered my eyes open. A deep crease formed on Harkin’s brow. He squeezed his eyes shut so tightly that it made deep creases in the corners. He fought something, held back from it, and he looked pained over it.
Gods. Was it his knot? I did that. I almost made him lose control.
Even partially swelled, the extra fullness, the reality of it, sent me careening over the edge. Every muscle in my lower half clenched, shuddered, and finally released. Harkin came undone the second after my climax had started, shivering along with me once we settled into it.
Harkin breathed heavily and let go. He took my face in one hand. With a pleased grin, he pressed a searing, passionate kiss to my lips. “You’re plum crazy if you think I’d ever need a break from that.”
“Fair enough,” I said, laughing.
Shit. I wanted to ask. Why don’t you knot me? He wasn’t saying anything about it. There had to be a reason. I didn’t want to spoil the moment in case it was something bad.
“Let me up, you big oaf.” I beat my fists against his boulder-like chest.
“Never.” Harkin dropped his weight on me again, chuckling.
When I teasingly hissed at him with my fangs, still smiling, he sat back on his haunches.
I scurried to my feet and crossed the room, letting my ass bounce. His cowboy hat rested on its peg by the door. I snatched it, turned, and beckoned Harkin with a come-hither finger.
Harkin squinted at me before standing and making his delicious way over. He took long, sturdy strides, his body sheened with sweat, his cock swaying. “What kinda trouble you got cookin’ up in that pretty head of yours?”
“I believe you mentioned you were familiar with the Texas two-step?” On the balls of my feet, I placed the hat on his head, settling it crookedly.
Harkin chuckled and adjusted the Stetson. He tipped the front of it. “Why, yes, ma’am, I did.”
Why was hat-tipping so sexy? Or was it because of him? Both? I was such a goner.
“Care to teach me?” I held my arms up, ever ready.
“Teachin’ the two-step in the nude with a beautiful naked woman in my arms. This’ll be a first.” Harkin took my hands.
“First time for everything. Look at us.”
Harkin swirled his thumb along my palm, a tender smile grazing his lips. “Yeah. Look at us.”
Forcing down the multitude of stones that formed in my throat from Harkin’s heated stare, I edged closer. “How’s it go, Kins?”
“Kins?” His grin grew wider.
“I’m testing it out. She called you Harky too many times. Left a nasty taste in my mouth.”
Harkin lowered his chin, rubbing the scruff of his beard against my cheek. “For the record,” he uttered. “I like it.”
Something deeply gratifying burst inside my chest over him approving of something I said.
“The basics of two-step are pretty damn easy. It’s quick, quick, slow, slow. When I move forward, you move back.” Harkin started with his right foot, taking two quick steps. I followed by taking those steps back, followed by two slower ones. “See? You’re already doin’ it.”
“That’s it?”
Harkin laughed. “Pretty much, but you just get fancier with it. Follow my lead.”
The wolf circled us around the open space of his loft with the same quick and slow steps.
He’d spin me, pull me back to his chest, and we’d fall right back into the same stepping rhythm.
We two-stepped for what seemed hours, Harkin doing fancier turns, impressed when I didn’t stumble on my own feet each time.
We laughed, we kissed, we swatted each other’s asses.
The council forcing us into isolation seemed a blessing in disguise. It gave us the quality time we’d been yearning for these past decades. It also shielded us from the bigger issue we would eventually need to tackle. Would the packs accept us? Would they accept me?
My shoulders sulked, my grip loosening on Harkin’s hands.
“Rory? What’s the frown for, darlin’?” He bumped a knuckle under my chin.
No sooner had my eyes met his than a louder, more ominous knock sounded, unlike Kaida’s earlier one.
“I think I’m favorin’ going to them for pack business,” Harkin muttered. He kissed my forehead and reluctantly let go of my hand to answer it. “Tell me what’s on your mind after this, alright?”
I gave a numb nod.
Waffles snuck from his hiding spot in the kitchen. He scrambled to rub against my calf. I picked him up.
“How can I—” Harkin whisked open the door, still wearing his cowboy hat and nothing else. “Elder Alaric.”
A much older man with long, white hair pulled back into a low ponytail and a long white beard stood with his hand raised to block the view of Harkin’s swinging cock. “For moon’s sake, Harkin, put some damn pants on.”
“Apologies, Elder.” Harkin spun on his heel. He grabbed a pair of jeans from a nearby chair, slipping into them. He hung the Stetson back on its hook and gave me a dopey smile. “Be right back.”
I used Waffles’ paw to wave at him.
An Elder? He must’ve been someone of higher importance if Harkin was concerned about pants.
The closer I got to the door Harkin would be able to detect my scent getting stronger.
If I tried hard enough, though, I could pick up parts of the conversation.
It didn’t happen often, and it took a lot of focus, but my gut told me this was important.
“Harkin, she’s a liability,” the Elder said.
I hugged Waffles under my chin.
“No, she’s not. Just in a bad spot. Aurora’s pretty damn special.”
Blood tears formed at the corners of my eyes.
“For fuck’s sake, boy, you cannot be with a vampire.”
The tears filled up now.
“Says who?”
“Says—” A harsh breath puffed from his nostrils. “The Elders exist to preserve tradition. You weren’t alpha yet, but you do remember the accounts of the last time a pack member started something up with a non-shifter.”
“That wasn’t a vampire. It was a gargoyle, and pack members had provoked her. Instead of the alpha confrontin’ it, he exiled him along with the gargoyle female.”
“Now, you listen to me. The Elders will not stand for this. I came here to warn you as a courtesy. You are this pack’s alpha. With that come certain responsibilities.”
My blood ran hot. What the hells was I doing here?
“Just because a pairin’ like ours has never happened doesn’t mean it can’t. That’s for the celestials to decide.”
“She needs to leave. See it done, Alpha.”
Fuck it. I didn’t want to listen to another word.
I sniffled and rummaged for my clothes before grabbing my phone for a quick text.
Me
Ash, are you alone?
Ash
I actually am. I’m at the Minty Boar nursing an ale. What’s up?
Me
I’ll meet you there.
I slipped on the new Halestorm shirt and a pair of jeans, and boots. After picking up Waffles, I stared at the front door, still cracked open.
Using an old receipt found on Harkin’s kitchen counter and a pen, I scribbled a note.
I’d be back. I needed to talk to someone not attached to any of this.
No vampires. No pack business. Just an old friend.
Quickly, I moved to a back window for escape, though I paused briefly, swiping Harkin’s pants from the couch.