Wolf on a Mission: Salvation Pack, Book 6 (21 page)

What was she thinking? She had a life and a young son to worry about. Elias had secrets and his nephews to protect. She still couldn’t quite believe Reece wasn’t just a wolf. She wondered if she’d ever see him in his human form.

Then Elias ripped the front of her nightgown open and every thought in her head vanished. When he was staring at her like she was a feast and he was a starving man, it was difficult to be logical.

He’d been shot last night. He’d been injured protecting her. He could have been killed.

What were they going to do about Connor and his brother? They’d shot Elias. They couldn’t be allowed to just walk away. They had to pay for what they’d done. It was only right. But it wasn’t like they could go to the police. Elias’s wounds were already healed.

“Stop thinking,” he admonished. “We’ll get everything sorted out. Right now, I need to touch you.” He put his words into action by running his hands over her arms, across her stomach and down the tops of her thighs.

Her legs moved restlessly against the sheets. It didn’t matter to her if he was part man and part beast, she still wanted him.

She loved him.

Oh God, when had it happened? How had it happened?

Was it when he’d risked his life for her? The way he looked at her? His loyalty to his family and love for his nephews? Elias was such a good man.

He’d told her he wanted her. He hadn’t mentioned love, but he’d made his claim pretty clear. He wanted her. And if he were to be believed, he wanted her indefinitely.

“Still thinking too much,” he scolded.

“I can’t help it.” She was going to ruin this time with him. And despite what he wanted, he might be forced to choose between a life with her and what was best for his nephews. She didn’t want him to have to make that kind of decision. But the people Anny was living with were secretive. She didn’t think they’d open their ranks to her easily.

And would she want them to if it meant leaving behind her old life?

It was all so confusing and there were no easy answers.

Elias straddled her, careful to keep his weight off her. He covered her breasts with his big hands. She couldn’t hold back the moan of pleasure at the sizzling sensation that shot through her.

“I’m going to make you forget everything but you and me,” he promised. Then he brushed his thumbs over her puckered nipples. Arousal flashed from her breasts and settled between her thighs. Maybe forgetting everything but them for a short while wasn’t such a bad thing. The problems would still be there later, but at least they’d have had this time together.

Now that she knew his secrets, she was realistic enough to know their relationship, if they truly had one, might not last. The question she needed to ask herself was if she thought it was worth fighting for, worth risking her heart and her son’s happiness?

Elias slid his hands upward, over her collarbone and neck until he was cupping her face in his hands. His eyes darkened with need. The thought that this strong man needed her was very alluring.

“What are you thinking?” he asked.

Sue shook her head, not ready to answer his question. Not yet.

She sensed his disappointment, but he swallowed it back and kissed her. It was at that moment she knew she loved him enough to risk it all—her heart, her future and her son’s happiness. Elias was worth the gamble.

She’d played it safe for years, ever since William had walked away from her and Billy. And what had it gained her? She was a single woman in a dead-end job. Yes, she had her son, and that made up for everything else. Was it wrong to want something more for herself? And, yes, for Billy too?

The thought of being part of a real family, of waking up with Elias every morning was worth the chance of being hurt. If their relationship failed, at least she would have tried.

Brave words when she didn’t know if her heart could take more pain, more loss.

Elias slipped his tongue between her lips and heat rushed through her. Love was worth the risk. Otherwise you weren’t really living.

“Come back to me,” he whispered.

“I’m here,” she promised.

He caught her hands in his, raised them over her head and rested them on the pillow. His large body covered hers and his mouth took hers in a searing kiss. His erection prodded her stomach. He was more than ready but seemed to be in no hurry.

She squirmed against him, but he only tightened his hold on her. “Not this time,” he told her. “I’m not going to be rushed. I want to savor every inch of your smooth skin.” He nuzzled her face. “Touch you.” He licked her jawline. “Taste you.” He sniffed her neck. “Smell you.”

Her toes curled and she was practically panting. The sensitive area between her legs was wet with desire and her pussy throbbed with need. She wanted Elias and she wanted him now. “Elias.”

“Soon,” he promised. “Soon.”

Sue wasn’t sure she’d survive his sensual torture, but he wasn’t giving her any choice.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Elias wished he knew what was going on in Sue’s mind. She’d had a lot thrown at her and she’d kept it all together, dealing with her attackers, his revelation and her son’s sudden appearance in the midst of it all. She was a hell of a woman and she was his.

He wasn’t lying when he told her she was it for him. Being with any other woman after her would feel wrong, like cheating. She was perfect for him.

Now all he had to do was convince her of that.

He was a man of action more than a talker, so he set out to bring her the most exquisite pleasure possible. He wanted her to know what it could be like between them. Just how damn good it would be if she became his.

He easily held her hands in his. Her fingers curled into fists and her pulse fluttered wildly in her neck. He swallowed and clamped down hard on his wolf, whose first and only instinct was to claim her. Elias took a deep breath. Big mistake. The heat from her body mingled with her soap and her arousal, setting his body on fire.

His muscles tensed and he had to force himself to relax. He had to make this good for her.

He rubbed his rough cheek against her softer one, the stubble from his jaw abrading her skin. She sucked in a breath, which pushed her breasts into his chest. The hard nubs rubbed against him. He grazed her jawline with his teeth and she shivered. The sweet smell of her arousal grew stronger and richer.

Elias wanted to please her in all ways. He concentrated on her neck, which seemed particularly sensitive. He was playing with fire but didn’t care. He warned his wolf that they needed to woo Sue, and if they pushed her, they might lose her. The beast grumbled and settled down.

He nuzzled his way up to her ear and blew on the sensitive whorls. She moaned and tilted her head to the side, giving him better access. His cock swelled and pulsed, hungry to be inside her.

He caught the lobe of her ear, tugged gently and then swirled his tongue over the delicate shell. She freed her hands from his hold and gripped his shoulders. “Elias, stop teasing me.”

He raised his head and grinned at her. “I’m only starting.”

She groaned but didn’t stop him when he shifted lower on her body. Her breasts were full and firm. He plumped them with his hands and ran his tongue over one straining nipple and then the other. He worked her until she was writhing beneath him. Small cries broke from her lips as he teased and aroused. Her hands roamed his back and shoulders, touching and squeezing wherever she could reach.

He didn’t want to leave her breasts, but there was so much more of her to explore. He kissed a path over her torso, gliding his tongue over the dip of her waist and into the hollow of her belly button.

He nipped her hipbones and made a place for himself between her legs. She groaned and crossed her arms over her face. Her cheeks were bright red. Sue was blushing.

Elias ran his hands up the insides of her legs, admiring her silky skin. “What’s the matter, sweetheart?” He spread her legs wide, licking his lips at the sight of the slick folds of her pussy. So pink and swollen and absolutely perfect.

“You’re looking at me. And it’s light out.”

He barely swallowed back a chuckle. He didn’t bother reminding her that with his preternatural vision, this wasn’t the first time he’d seen her. The sun had just risen and light filtered into the bedroom. Sue was sprawled across the crisp white sheets that were decorated with tiny flowers. She was like some pagan offering to the gods, and she was his.

She jolted when he ran his tongue over her labia, up one side and down the other. “Elias.” This time, her voice was breathy and filled with arousal and need. He loved hearing her say his name like that. It was a complete turn-on. He explored her, taking his time to taste and learn where she was most sensitive and what pleased her.

He ran the flat of his tongue over her clit. A needy cry broke from her lips and she arched her lower body, silently demanding more of his touch. Her sweet essence coated his lips and tongue. Elias thought his dick might explode. He had to get inside her before he lost control and came all over the bed.

But Sue’s pleasure came first. He wrapped his lips around her swollen clit and sucked on the little bundle of nerves. Sue cried out and her body quivered. He smelled the fresh rush of her arousal. Loved the way she tugged at his hair to keep him close. Her legs trembled and her thighs clamped around his head as she rode out her climax.

He growled, kissed her inner thigh and surged up her body, unable to wait any longer. He hooked his arms beneath her legs and planted his palms flat on the bed, opening her wide.

The touch of the head of his cock against her wet heat made his balls clench. “Sue.” He wanted her to be sure.

She caught his hips, dug her nails into his skin and pulled him closer. “Don’t stop,” she warned.

That was all he needed. Elias slid into her slick heat, burying himself to the hilt in one thrust. Her inner muscles fluttered around him, clutching and drawing him deeper.

“Fuck.” He bucked once. There was no stopping his orgasm. It shot from the base of his cock and out the tip, flooding her with his release. He growled, half embarrassed at losing it so soon. Only Sue didn’t seem to care. She ground her pelvis against his while whimpering with need.

His cock was still as hard as steel so he began to thrust. Over and over, he pulled back to the edge only to drive forward again and again. He hooked an arm beneath her knee and pushed upward, opening her even more. Sue moaned and cried out her pleasure all while trying to drag him closer.

Elias lost his mind and fucked her hard and fast, his hips slamming against hers. His fangs dropped from his gums. He growled and narrowed his gaze on the wildly fluttering pulse in her neck. The soft skin just beneath it beckoned. Once he bit her, she belonged to him

“Elias.” Her pussy rippled and then clenched around his cock. He howled as he came yet again. He gave her everything that he was even though he knew she didn’t fully understand. He might not have bitten her, but she was now his. His to protect, to care for and to cherish.

He was totally drained in both body and soul and collapsed on top of her. He wrapped himself around her and managed to roll to the side so he didn’t crush her. His lungs ached as though he’d run for miles. Sweat coated his skin and his hair stuck to his skull.

He was well and truly wrecked. His cock was still locked inside Sue. There would be no separation until the swelling subsided. He ran his hand down her back, half surprised to encounter fabric. She was still wearing her nightgown like an open housecoat. He’d ripped the front open but hadn’t removed it.

Sue clung to him, her breath moist and warm against his neck. He wished she could bite him, marking him as hers. It wasn’t part of the claiming ritual, but he wouldn’t mind wearing her mark.

Finally, she pushed away from his chest. He didn’t want her to leave. Once they got out of this bed, they both had responsibilities to deal with.

“Do you have to work today?” His shaft jerked, and her pussy tightened around him, drawing a groan from him and a gasp from her.

She shook her head. “No. I’m off today.” He was glad. She had to be exhausted after everything she’d been through and could probably use a nap. She started to squirm away from him. “I have to get up.”

He wrapped his arms around her and drew her tight to his chest, wishing he could keep her there for eternity, or at least for the next fifty years. “Give me a minute.”

She played with his chest hair, dragging a finger through it. “You’re not getting any smaller,” she pointed out.

“I swell when I come. Takes a few minutes to go down.”

“Oh.” She stilled but stopped trying to move away. He wished he knew what she was thinking but didn’t ask. He wanted to bask in these quiet moments before reality intruded once again.

The shadows in the room disappeared as the light grew stronger. The sun was rising and the world would soon be waking. Elias knew he couldn’t stay any longer. As much as he hated to release her, he knew it was time. Billy would be up soon. The last thing Sue needed was for her son to catch them in bed. He didn’t think she wanted to have that conversation with Billy this morning.

He gritted his teeth and ignored the way her body tightened around his shaft when he moved. It wasn’t easy, but he separated them. He immediately felt the loss of her wet heat wrapped around him, as well as the emotional connection.

She sat and pulled the sheet around her. “You should get going. I imagine Sage and Reece are worried about you.”

He caught her chin in his hand. “Trying to get rid of me?”

“No. Yes. I don’t know.” She looked at him and he could see the confusion in her eyes. It hurt him that she didn’t want him to stay, but he understood. Billy would want to know where the wolf was and why Elias was here. Too many questions and no easy answers to give him.

Elias rolled out of bed. “My stuff still in the kitchen?”

As Sue nodded, her eyes tracked down the length of his body, widening when they landed on his cock. It was still swollen and got even larger the longer she looked at him.

“Really?”

He leaned down and dropped a hard kiss on her swollen lips. “I’m not human, sweetheart.”

She swallowed and her eyes widened at the reminder.

“I’ll be back later.” He turned and left before he did something stupid, like fall to his knees and beg her to let him stay. She was right about one thing. Sage and Reece and the rest of the pack would be wondering what in the hell happened to him.

His jeans were in a crumpled heap by the back door. He shook them out and pulled them on, being careful when he zipped them. He wasn’t going to go down until he got away from Sue. Probably not even then. He could smell her on his skin and taste her on his lips. He shoved his feet into his sneakers and quickly left.

He’d detour down to the stream before he headed back to pack land. A cold dip was exactly what he needed.

Sue didn’t move until she heard the door closing and knew Elias was gone. She pulled her legs up to her chest and rested her head on her knees. Her life was a mess. The air in the room was hot and heavy with the scent of sex. Even with the window open, there wasn’t enough of a breeze to dispel the unmistakable smell.

She grabbed the pillow next to her and inhaled. Elias’s masculine scent clung to the fabric. It clung to her skin as well.

She’d been well and truly loved. She hugged the pillow, clinging to the amazing feeling for as long as she dared. Duty called, and her son would soon be up and about.

Sue tossed the pillow down and gingerly climbed out of bed. Her body felt well used, but in a good way. Her skin tingled and her pussy throbbed from the memory of having Elias inside her. She needed a shower. Then she needed to change the sheets.

Her nightgown was beyond salvaging. She pulled off the torn fabric and dumped it in the trashcan. Her robe felt heavy and harsh against her skin, but she had to wear something. She gathered shorts, underwear, a bra and a light sleeveless blouse and headed to the bathroom.

It didn’t take her long to shower, dress and pull her hair up in a short ponytail. She didn’t linger. Barefoot, she padded back to the bedroom, stripped the sheets and pillowcases from the bed, gathered the rest of the laundry and dragged it to the utility room off the kitchen. Once she had a load of light clothes washing, she started a pot of coffee. While she was waiting for it to perk, she made sure all signs of last night were erased from the kitchen. A faint breeze floated in through the open windows, offering a slight respite from the heat.

Once enough coffee had brewed, she poured herself a cup and returned the carafe to the coffeemaker so the cycle could finish. She hesitated and then squared her shoulders and stepped out on the porch. No way was she going to allow the likes of Connor McLennan steal her peace of mind and keep her from enjoying a beautiful summer morning.

Still, she shivered in spite of the heat. She perched on the steps rather than in the chair she’d been sitting in last night.

What was she going to do?

She was almost sure she loved Elias. She’d never believed in love at first sight. Okay, so it had been lust at first sight with Elias but the deeper feelings had quickly followed. She’d only known him a matter of days. That qualified as love at first sight in her books.

If he asked her to, could she walk away from her life here, from everything familiar? The answer was surprisingly yes. Yes, she could. The problem, of course, was her ex-husband and his sudden interest in his son. Which really wasn’t about Billy at all, but about money.

She sipped her coffee and tried to figure a solution but couldn’t. Then there was the extra problem with Connor. Would he be back to threaten her again?

Her life used to be about routine—work and her son. When had it gotten so complicated?

“Mom?”

She swiveled around at the sound. “Out here, honey.”

Billy, tousled from sleep, pushed the screen door open and stepped out onto the porch.

“Did you sleep well?” She didn’t need to ask. He always slept well. His waking last night was an aberration.

He nodded and looked around. “Where’s the doggy?”

Sue set her mug down and opened her arms. Billy came to her and settled on her lap. He was getting older so fast. Soon he wouldn’t want to sit in her lap or have her fuss over him. “He had to go home.”

Billy frowned and played with one of the buttons on her blouse. “Why?”

She nuzzled his neck and made him laugh. “Because he has family waiting for him.”

Billy nodded even though she knew he didn’t truly understand. Things were simpler in his five-year-old logic. He didn’t see why the
doggy
couldn’t stay.

“Since I don’t have to work today, how about we have some pancakes.”

Billy nodded. He was always enthusiastic about pancakes. She set her son on his feet, grabbed her mug and herded him toward the house. “Then we’ll put you in the tub and maybe we’ll run to the grocery store.” No matter what else was happening in her life, she had chores to do and errands to run. Laundry, the grocery store and the bank. These were all things that needed doing. “What do you say, buddy?”