i beae453328863969 Read online

  Spotting a hand towel on the counter top, she grabbed it and held it in front of her waist. It was better than nothing.

  “You’re my mate,” Gareth said, staring into her eyes. “I had to bond with you, to link your blood to me so that no other could claim you.”

  She didn’t like the sound of that, not at all. “Look, Frenchie,”

  she muttered, “don’t get me wrong. I had a good time.” An absolutely, mind-blowing orgasm of a good time. “But I think you’re confused. I’m not your mate. You don’t even know me.”

  “I know everything about you.” His gaze swept over her. His pupils flared as he stared at the tips of her breasts. “Everything.

  I’ve spent my life waiting to claim you. And now that I have, you’ll be with me, forever.”

  She shook her head. “I’m… uh… not really looking for com-

  mitment right now, you know?” What she was looking for was a way out of this nuthouse.

  A low growl rumbled in his throat. “There is no choice,” he snarled. “Not for either of us. We are bound. Bound by the blood!”

  “Are you a vampire?” she asked him, her voice hushed. She really had to know. Because if he was, she thought she would have to scream.

  He threw back his thick mane of hair and laughed. Actually roared with laughter.

  Trinity clutched the small towel tighter and stared at him. Was laughter a good sign?

  “A vampire?” A tear streaked from the corner of his eye. “Certainly not.” There was a touch of disdain in his voice.

  Her shoulders relaxed. Maybe she’d just imagined the teeth, maybe—

  “I’m a wolf. A werewolf.”

  She blinked, and her heart seemed to stop. “A what?”

  He smiled, his dimple flashing. “And you, my lovely, are my mate.” A hint of fang appeared.

  She tried to sound reasonable. “Werewolves aren’t real.”

  A faint line appeared between his brows. “But vampires are?”

  Okay, he had her there. “Look, I just want to leave, all right?”

  She hated the weak, almost pleading sound of her voice, but she really had to get out of there.

  He shook his head. “No, I told you before. It’s not safe.”

  Like it was safe to be in the house with a guy claiming to be a werewolf.

  “At least…” she swallowed and tried for what she hoped was a placating smile. “At least let me get dressed.”

  His gaze drifted over her body. “But you’re so lovely,” he breathed. “Your breasts are so full and pretty.” His cheeks were flushed. “I could stare at you all day long.”

  A curl of warmth spread through her. Lovely. She’d never been called that before.

  His head jerked back, and his eyes took on a distant look. “The others are returning.”

  What? How did he know that—

  “Go.” He pointed back down the hallway, toward the room she’d fled earlier. “Your clothes are in the closet.”

  She turned, quickly positioning the cloth over her backside. He laughed softly at her gesture.

  “It’s too late for that, you know.” His voice was a silken purr.

  “I’ve already seen every part of your delectable little body.”

  She stiffened and glanced back at him. “I’m not like this,” she whispered. “Not usually.”

  One black brow arched.

  She licked her lips. “I- I don’t sleep with strangers. I mean, strange men. I mean—” Hell, he wasn’t even a man. But she

  wanted him to understand. She didn’t make a habit out of having sex with men she’d just met. It was just that with him, well, she’d lost control. Hunger had burned through her, and all she’d wanted was… him.

  He smiled at her, his face softening. “I know. And I’m glad.”

  “But don’t get the idea that it’s gonna be happening again,”

  she told him and saw the smile disappear from his face. “Cause I just want to get out of here, back to my home.” My life. A life that doesn’t include a werewolf.

  His eyes shimmered, actually shimmered, as the gold started to glow. “Oh, my mate, there is one thing that you can be sure of.”

  His fangs flashed. “It will most definitely happen again.”

  At the sight of the blatant hunger on his face, Trinity fled down the hall, running as if a beast were on her trail.

  Because he was.

  ***

  She tugged on her clothes in record time. They’d been exactly where he’d said, folded all nice and neat in the closet. After she dressed, Trinity paced the room, wondering what her next move should be. She could hear the faint rumble of voices and knew that Gareth’s friends had returned to the house just as he’d warned.

  The house. Gareth’s house. She moved to the window and

  peered outside. It was still night. The moon shone down on the area, illuminating a thick forest.

  She blinked. A forest? Where the hell was she? And how was she going to get out of there?

  She fumbled with the latch and forced the window open. Cool night air swept inside. She could smell fresh pine and the scent of leaves.

  A knock sounded at the door.

  “Trinity?”

  It was him. Gareth.

  The man she’d just had mind-numbing sex with.

  The werewolf.

  The knob rattled. “Trinity? Are you finished?”

  Good thing she’d locked the door. She took a deep breath, and said, “Not yet. Give me just a few minutes.”

  A pause, then, “I know you’re scared, Trinity. But I can explain everything to you, if you just give me the chance.”

  He could explain everything? She glanced up at the full moon.

  She was trapped in the woods with a man who claimed to be a werewolf, a werewolf that she was pretty sure had used some kind of mind control whammy on her earlier. How else had he managed to get her into that limo and out to this godforsaken cabin?

  “Trinity!” There was a demand in his voice this time.

  “I’ll be right out,” she called, knowing the words were an absolute lie.

  He didn’t respond.

  She took a deep breath. It was now or never. She lifted her tennis shoe up and crawled through the narrow window, landing with a soft thud on the other side.

  Crouching on the ground, she wondered which way she should go. Wondered where—

  The door crashed open. “Trinity!”

  Damn. She sprang to her feet and headed straight for the line of trees in front of her.

  “No, don’t run from me!” His bellow followed her. “It’s not safe!”

  She didn’t stop. She ran as fast as she could, her heart pounding, her tennis shoes slapping against the rough earth. Fear filled her as she fled, but she had to get away from Gareth before she did something that she would regret.

  Like beg him to take her again.

  Because she couldn’t shake the memory of having him in her body, of having him thrust deep into her. She couldn’t forget the strong, thick feel of his cock, the explosion of feeling that had rocked through her at his touch.

  And that terrified her.

  She jumped over a fallen limb, and kept running, her legs moving in a quick rhythm. Maybe she could find another cabin, find someone to help her—

  A long howl split the night.

  She froze.

  Her chest was heaving, her calves aching. She didn’t know how far she’d run, but that howl had been close.

  Was that Gareth? Or—

  Just ahead, the bushes began to shake.

  A large, white wolf jumped from the brush, its mouth open in a hideous snarl that revealed dozens of sharp teeth. The animal growled at her, advancing slowly.

  Trinity couldn’t move. She could only stand there, stunned, staring at the beast. It was huge. Thick with bulging muscles. Its coat gleamed in the night. And its teeth—

  Oh, my, what big teeth you have…

  The better to eat me with…r />
  “G-Gareth?” Was that him? Because it sure as hell wasn’t an ordinary wolf. She’d bet her life on it. “I-Is that you?” She held out her hand.

  The beast’s jaws snapped, and she jerked her hand back, narrowly avoiding the loss of her fingers.

  A cold chill swept through her. The wolf had black eyes. Dark, merciless eyes.

  “Y-you’re not Gareth, are you?” She whispered, taking a tentative step back.

  A low, fierce growl was her only answer. The creature’s muscles bunched as it prepared to lunge at her.

  She opened her mouth to scream—

  And a large, black wolf jumped in front of her, its fangs bared.

  The white wolf snarled, then turned and ran, disappearing into the night.

  Trinity lifted a trembling hand to her throat as the black wolf turned toward her. Its golden eyes met hers.

  “G-Gareth?”

  It threw back its head and howled. The sound seemed to rip through the night.

  The wolf padded toward her. Its head bumped against her thigh.

  She stared down at the beast, shaking. It was even bigger than the white wolf. And its teeth—

  Its head nudged her again, and the wolf looked up at her, watching her with a steady golden stare.

  She lifted her hand, reaching slowly outward, terrified that it would snap at her, but feeling drawn, almost compelled, to reach for it.

  The wolf didn’t move.

  Her fingers sank into its thick fur.

  Its golden stare never wavered. The wolf crowded against her, pushing her body back against a tree, but it made no move to attack her.

  The wolf padded away from her and threw back its magnificent head and howled, the eerie, mournful sound sweeping through the forest once again.

  As she watched, the wolf changed. Its bones shifted, cracking loudly, terribly, and the hair seemed to melt from its body. She stood there, transfixed, watching the wolf change. Transform.

  In seconds, the body of the wolf was gone, and in its place stood a man, a tall, strong, naked man.

  Gareth.

  He glared at her, his face tight with anger. “Do you want to die?”

  She shook her head.

  “Then why did you leave me? I told you it wasn’t safe. Rafe is hunting you. He wants to take you from me—”

  “Rafe?” she whispered in dazed confusion.

  His eyes narrowed. “The wolf that almost ripped you to shreds.

  He knows you’re my mate, and he wants to take you, to hurt me.”

  He stalked toward her, rage apparent in the stiffness of his body.

  “I won’t let you put your life at risk.” He grabbed her arms, pulling her toward him. “You’re too important.”

  “I didn’t know,” she protested. It’s not like he’d told her to be-ware of a rampaging werewolf. “You didn’t tell me—”

  He kissed her, crashing his mouth down on hers. She tasted the rage in his kiss, the fear.

  The hunger.

  His cock pressed against her, and she felt the strong, hot heat of his desire.

  He tore his mouth from hers. “He would have killed you.

  Ripped your throat out.”

  She stared at him, stunned and more than a little sick. She remembered the creature’s teeth, and she could still hear its snarl…

  He kissed her again, his mouth pressing hotly, angrily against hers. His tongue swept into her mouth, pushing past her teeth, claiming her.

  She held her body stiffly in his arms, still frightened and confused, not fighting him, but not embracing him. She didn’t understand what was happening between them, didn’t understand the feelings he stirred within her.

  How could he affect her so easily?

  All at once, his mouth gentled on hers, tempted instead of took and she felt herself begin to respond to him.

  His head lifted. His eyes blazed. “Don’t deny me.”

  Need was pounding through her body, replacing all other emotions. Her breasts were tight, hard, aching. A heavy, languorous heat flooded her. In that moment, the last thing she thought about doing was denying him.

  She gasped as his hands, those large, strong hands, rose and covered her breasts. His fingers stroked her, teasing her nipples.

  Pinching the tight peaks.

  Her thighs clenched.

  His mouth lowered toward her, and he kissed her neck, his

  tongue rubbing wetly against her skin. She could feel the warm stir of his breath, could smell his strong, masculine scent.

  The edge of his teeth pressed against her.

  She jerked back, her eyes flaring with fast fear.

  His golden eyes were locked on her, his face a tight mask of lust.

  Her heart pounded. Fear and a dark, desperate desire filled her.

  His fingers lifted, threading through her hair, and he pushed against her, pushed her down with a steady, unbreakable hold.

  “Gareth—” Her heart was pounding, and she could feel a damp-ness coating her panties.

  “Suck me,” he growled, forcing Trinity to her knees. “I want to feel your mouth on me.”

  Her knees hit the ground, and she felt the cold, slightly damp grass beneath her. She lifted her gaze, licking her lips. His cock was right in front of her. He was hard. Huge. The head seemed to reach toward her, and she trembled with the wave of longing that swept through her.

  She wrapped her hands around the thick length. He jerked beneath her touch, a low hiss sliding past his lips. She was amazed by how smooth he felt and how strong.

  “Trinity…”

  She looked up at him, her fingers slowly stroking his cock. His golden eyes were glowing. A wave of nervousness swept through her. What was she doing? This wasn’t her. She didn’t—

  “I need you.” His fingers tightened in her hair. “Suck me, Trinity.”

  She wanted to. She wanted to taste him, to put her lips on him, and feel his arousal. But… “I-I’ve never done this,” she whispered, lowering her gaze to stare at his thick cock.

  He stiffened.

  Oh, God. Humiliation burned through her. So much for playing the sophisticated lover. She dropped her hands, and tried to rise, but his hold was unbreakable. “Gareth—”

  He thrust his cock toward her. It looked even bigger now, and a faint drop of moisture was on its broad head. “Taste me,” he ordered. “Let me be the first, the only.”

  But what if she did something wrong? What if she—

  “Taste me.”

  There was such need in his voice, such hunger. She couldn’t deny him. Leaning forward, she opened her mouth and took the tip of his cock inside. Her lips slipped around him, pulling his length deep into her mouth.

  He growled.

  Her tongue licked his cock, tasting him, tasting the faint salti-ness of his pre-cum.

  “Oh, that’s good, ma petite,” Gareth muttered. “So good.”

  He moved against her, thrusting lightly. His hands were locked on her, teaching her how to match his rhythm.

  She opened her mouth wider, trying to take more of him. He felt so good, so thick, so—

  He jerked away from her, his chest heaving.

  She stayed on her knees, staring up at his heavy cock. She could still taste him in her mouth.

  “For the record,” he said, his voice hoarse and ragged, “you are never, ever to do that to another man.”

  She blinked, raising her gaze to meet his.

  “Because if you do,” he continued, reaching to pull her up against him. “I’ll kill him.”

  His hands lifted, catching the hem of her shirt. In one quick move, he yanked the tee shirt over her head and tossed it onto the grass.

  She was wearing a bra, a small, plain, white bra. He lowered his head, pushed the fabric aside, and licked her.

  His hand slipped down her body, curving at the top of her running shorts. His fingers, his nimble fingers, drifted down, down the front of the shorts, and pressed against the juncture of her thighs.
r />   “Spread your legs,” he whispered, his tongue snaking out to lick the upper curve of her breast.

  Shuddering, she obeyed.

  His fingers pressed against her core, rubbing against the fabric of the shorts, teasing her throbbing clit.

  She trembled, her body hot, burning hot.

  “Are you wet for me?” he asked.

  She nodded, not able to speak.

  “You know what I am,” he muttered, his fingers pressing against her. Teasing. Tormenting.

  Tension was building, her climax spinning toward her.

  “Do you still want me?” he asked, his words harsh. “Say it.

  Give me the words.”

  She licked her lips. “I-I want you.” God help her, she was desperate for him.

  “Good. Because I’m about to explode for you.” His lips curved.

  He stepped away from her. “Take off your clothes.”

  She jerked them off in seconds, then reached for him, her

  fingers closing eagerly around the strong breadth of his shoulders.

  She rubbed her nipples against his chest, and his cock pressed against her thighs.

  His arms locked around her, and he lifted her. “Wrap your legs around me,” he said, his golden stare locked on her.

  The strength of his body pressed against her. She could feel the solid wall of his chest, feel the corded muscles of his arms.

  She wrapped her legs around his hips, instantly feeling the press of his cock against her opening. Her cream drenched the head, coating him. He growled.

  “Can you take me this way?” His hands tightened around her hips.

  She’d like to see him try to stop her. She licked her lips, nodding.

  “Guide me into you,” he said, his mouth raining kisses over the curve of her shoulder.

  She swallowed, her flesh flushed with desire. She reached for him, stroking the broad length of his erection. With shaking hands, she parted her folds and pressed his cock against the entrance of her body.

  “Good. So good.” The gold of his eyes seemed to flare ever brighter. “Now take me.” He thrust into her.

  She gasped, throwing back her head as she was filled with his cock. It felt wonderful. So unbelievably wonderful.

  He filled every inch of her with his solid length. And when he began to move…