Wolf Claims His Pack (Salvation Pack: The Next Generation Book 3), page 13
“I burn with wanting you, but it’s not about the sex. I’m twenty-eight, and believe it or not, I have gone long periods of my life without sex. I’ve got a handy right hand if I want to jerk off. And believe me I’ve given it quite a workout these past few days.” He flexed his right arm, the bicep bulging, for emphasis.
Sweat rose on her skin and trickled down her back, dampening her tank top. The idea of watching him take his cock in his hand and get himself off was super hot. It was all too easy to imagine him naked, his head thrown back as he worked his fist up and down.
The heat had grown exponentially, and it wasn’t because of the sun. Her face was flushed. She wanted to fan her hand in front of her but managed to contain herself. No use in feeding his already healthy ego. A relentless hunger throbbed in her core—a reminder that all the self-pleasuring in the world hadn’t helped ease the longing haunting her day and night.
“Why are you so set on going it alone?” If he gripped the steering wheel any tighter, it was going to snap. Maybe he was imagining it was her neck he was squeezing.
“That’s how it’s been since…” She trailed off, not wanting to talk about her parents. Her voice didn’t sound like hers. It was hoarse and echoed with past pain and current need.
He released the wheel and gently touched his fingers to her cheek. “It doesn’t have to be.”
Dare she believe him? What if she was wrong? The consequences could be huge and reverberate for years. Not only with her but all of them.
But what if he was telling the truth? She nibbled on her bottom lip, weighing the pros and cons, even as her heart screamed at her to take a leap of faith.
“Fuck it.” He ripped off his seat belt, shoved his seat back as far as it would go, and pulled her over the console between them and onto his lap. His lips slammed down on hers.
This! This was what she’d been missing. Their lips fought, not for control or dominance, but to get closer. Soft sounds of need escaped as she plunged her tongue into his mouth, relearning his taste and texture. It had only been days, but it seemed like a lifetime ago since she’d had him.
She ran her fingers through his hair, knocking the ridiculous pink sunglasses off his face. They clattered as they fell. His skin was almost hot to the touch. Or maybe it was her burning from the inside out. His biceps flexed and bunched as he shifted her position so she was sitting astride him, her knees nestled against his thighs, the steering wheel digging into her back, and his erection pressing against her core. It should have been uncomfortable. It was perfection. On a moan, she rubbed against him, silently damning the layers of clothing between them.
With his mouth still on hers, he fought with the button and zipper of her shorts. Once they were free, he jammed his hand down the front of her panties and found her clit. Her entire body bowed as pleasure slammed into her. “Yes!” she shouted, grinding her sex against his clever fingers.
The past days had been a sexual dance of advance and retreat, a never-ending foreplay that had them both primed. Everything inside her clenched. She was poised on the edge. She didn’t tip over—she eagerly jumped. It would have been embarrassing how fast she came if it didn’t feel so damn good. Her sex clenched, empty and needy, even as the orgasm shot through her. It seemed to last forever but was over too soon.
Slumping against his chest, she buried her face against his neck and licked his salty skin. Mmm, he tasted delicious. She nibbled a little harder.
“Fuck,” he muttered.
On a laugh, she raised her head. “Close, but not quite.”
His grin was pained as he lifted her off him.
“Hey.” Surprised, she barely caught herself as her butt landed on her seat, her legs half in the air. Nicholas was out of the truck in a heartbeat, pacing back and forth, dragging his fingers through his hair. Talk about a man on the edge. Zipping her shorts, she jumped out. “Why’d you push me away? Is it punishment for keeping away from you?” The idea that he might use sex to manipulate her didn’t sit well.
He pounced so fast she had no chance to evade. Her back was against the hood of the truck. She lifted her legs to keep the hot metal from burning her skin. At her first hiss of pain, he yanked her away and held her at arm’s length, protecting her even though she’d angered him. Something it seemed she had a knack for.
“We’re on a public road. Anyone could come by. We’re both distracted, which means it’s not safe. I would never, never,” he repeated, “use sex to manipulate you.”
She closed her eyes on a wave of shame before facing him again. It seemed she was doomed to keep hurting this man. “I’m sorry.” She pressed her palm against his cheek. His unyielding jaw flexed beneath her touch. “That was unfair and uncalled for. Blame it on frustration.”
“At least you came,” he muttered. Her gaze dropped to the hard bulge in his jeans. Ouch! That had to hurt.
“It’s not enough,” she told him, giving him the honesty he deserved.
Her wolf already viewed him as hers, even though they weren’t mated. The female wolf was possessive, recognizing a prime catch when she saw it. Bailey was more cautious, but even she was beginning to become a believer.
Groaning, he dragged her into his arms. The kiss was hot and carnal, tongues thrusting as the sun heated their bodies even more. Arms around his neck, she rubbed her chest against his. Her stomach dragged across his erection. His growl echoed in her ears.
A truck rolled by, followed by a loud whistle and a male voice yelling, “Get a room.”
Swearing, they both jumped back at the same time. “That’s why,” he told her.
It was a toss-up if she’d laugh or cry. She was so on edge she hurt. How much worse must it be for him?
“We’ll finish this tonight, after the kids are in bed.” He tilted his chin up after tossing the challenge at her.
Once again, he was leaving the choice to her, not forcing her but leaving her no doubt as to what he wanted. “Tonight.” She climbed into the truck, rummaged in her bag, and pulled out a pack of wet wipes to refresh herself.
She was almost done when he joined her. He glanced at her bag, shaking his head, a bemused expression on his face. “What don’t you have in there?”
“Hey, I’ve got four kids. Well, one kid and three teenage boys, which when I think about it is like having four kids, but only sometimes. They’re all really responsible.” She was proud of her pack, wanted him to see them the same way she did. “I always have a supply of wipes, mints, tissues, elastics, a hairbrush, and whatever else I think might be necessary.”
“And sunglasses.” He reached down onto the floor and came up with the pink glasses and perched them back on his nose. “While I appreciate your bottomless bag, I’m not one of your kids.”
“Believe me, I’m well aware.” She held out the purse-sized package. “Wipe?”
Chuckling, he shook his head. Before her astonished eyes, he popped his fingers into his mouth and sucked them. Her sex clenched and grew damp. “I’m not wasting a drop.” His husky voice and the pure sexiness of the gesture made her want to squirm.
“Shut up and drive.”
On a purely masculine laugh, he put the truck in gear, checking before easing them back onto the road. The devil had made his point and he knew it.
“First stop is the Dairy Queen.” Chin tilted in challenge, she dared him to make something of it. “I want something cold to drink.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He held out his right hand. She stared at the long, strong fingers he’d just licked and the broad palm. He was offering more than sex. If she took his hand, there was no going back. He held it there, not wavering, not retracting it.
On a shaky breath, she took it.
****
Something major had changed between them. Bailey’s acceptance went deeper than their physical relationship and the pleasure it offered. They were no longer strangers. She understood what he was offering.
He’d held his breath, willing to wait forever, if need be. Fortunately, she hadn’t made him wait that long. Unlike their wedding ceremony, which had been for show, for the benefit of others, this was only for them. The weight of the commitment they’d silently agreed on felt natural, not constricting or confining. Slipping over him as comfortably as the fur he wore as a wolf.
This was how it was supposed to be.
He wanted to howl with sheer joy, wanted to shift and pace every inch of their pack land and mark it with his scent, so that any who ventured close—animal or werewolf—would know who they were up against. Primal, maybe, but he was a wolf at the core of his being. Most of all, he wanted to strip Bailey naked and make love to her for hours until they were both exhausted and satisfied.
The sweet, musky scent of sex, of Bailey, permeated the cab of the truck. He inhaled deeply, silently cursing when his cock jerked. He let go of her hand long enough to reach down and adjust himself. It didn’t help. The fabric was constricting to the point of pain.
Come to think of it, he could use a cool drink himself.
He was under no misconception she was agreeing to mate with him. Like any powerful female alpha, she was going to make him work for it. No, she was agreeing to give them an honest chance. It was up to him to make the most of it.
Without a word, he swung through the drive-thru and gave their order. After handing Bailey her drink, he headed toward the post office. The silence between them was charged, but not in an uncomfortable way. It was more anticipation. He pulled into an empty spot in front of the building and cut the engine.
“I’ll carry the packages in for you.” He had the door open when she put her hand on his arm.
“I’ve got it, but thanks,” she added.
Knowing it was time to back off and give her space to operate as she normally would, he closed his door. Smiling, she hopped out. “I won’t be long.” With her bag slung over one shoulder, she grabbed the bin from the truck bed and strode into the building. He watched her long, bare legs, admired the shape of her ass.
Instead of waiting in the truck, he grabbed the keys and got out. The street was busy with many other businesses nearby. Curious, he cast his gaze up and down Main Street. There were the normal stores found in every town like the hardware and drugstore, but there were specialty shops that catered to tourists and locals looking for a little something special. The big box stores in the larger centers had driven out most of the local clothing and general stores, but others had moved in, finding a niche market and catering to it.
Bailey had done that. She’d needed to make a living that allowed her to work from home and she’d done it. He knew little about her work, only that she was damn good at it and put in endless hours at the forge to perfect her craft. And as the trip to the post office proved, her online store was flourishing.
He ambled to the glass door of the post office and glanced inside. Bailey was second in line, but with the amount of packages in her bin, she’d be awhile. Taking a chance, he strode down the sidewalk and went into the first store that had caught his eye. He made another quick stop after that and barely made it back with enough time to hide his two bags behind his seat.
A smile on her face, she came down the short walkway and joined him in the truck. “That much is done.” She stowed the empty bin. “Groceries next.”
He’d been giving their situation some thought while he shopped. “I think we should take the bull by the horns and stop by the CPS office and see Mary Burns. Go to her before she comes to us.”
She rolled her lips together and reached for her drink. Condensation made the outside of the cup wet, but she ignored it and took a long sip. The sight of her full lips sucking on the straw had his jeans feeling a size too small in ten seconds flat. The visual in his mind changed from a straw to his dick.
Yeah, he had it bad. Rolling up the windows, he cranked the air conditioning. “Don’t argue,” he said before she could object. “I need it if we’re going anywhere.” Her gaze dropped to his lap. Her hum of sympathy almost finished him. He looked out the window and did his best to ignore her. “What do you think?”
“I think you’re right. We go to her, we decide where and when the meeting takes place. Keeps the situation more under our control.” Reaching into her back pocket, she pulled out her phone. “I’ll call. If she’s not at work, there’s no point in making the trip.”
He’d Googled the office location, but she’d programmed the phone number into her phone. The woman never missed a step. It rang twice before it was answered.
“Mary Burns speaking.”
“Ms. Burns, this is Bailey Smith. We met last week.”
“Give me a second.” There was some rustling on the other end. “I’m glad you called. I’ve been looking into your situation. All your documentation seems to be in order.”
Bailey visibly slumped against the seat. First hurdle jumped. “That’s good to hear. Ah, we’re in town and hoped, if you weren’t busy, we could stop by your office.”
“We?”
“Ah, Nicholas and I. We got married.”
“Do you have a copy of the marriage certificate?”
Bailey’s head jerked up. “Ah.” He caught her eye and nodded. “Yes, we do.”
“Excellent. I’m out on another case. You can drop the document at the office, and I’ll make sure I get it in the file. If you have any questions or ever need any help, please call.” Her voice softened. “I really am here to help.”
Nicholas was impressed with the woman. She genuinely cared, but the human system was no place for any of the kids. CPS and the full humans she dealt with were lucky to have her, even if she was an unnecessary thorn in Bailey’s side.
“Does that mean we’re done?” Bailey asked. He leaned forward, even though he could easily hear the conversation.
Mary chuckled. “As far as I’m concerned, the matter is closed. Crank calls take up valuable time, but we have to investigate them all.”
“Thank you for making this relatively painless.” A different caseworker and this could have been a worse process.
“Thank you for being so forthcoming. Not everyone is. Take care.”
Bailey ended the call, and her hand fell into her lap. She blinked twice and looked at him. “Is it really that simple? Is it over?” The beginnings of hope dawned in her eyes.
Leaning over, he placed a quick kiss on her lips. “As soon as we drop off the copy of our marriage certificate.”
“Let’s do it. Thank you for thinking to bring a copy. It didn’t even occur to me.”
“You mean, you don’t have one in your bottomless bag,” he teased. When she didn’t laugh, he sobered. “I figured since we were coming to town we’d get it done rather than waiting for her to contact us. We’re in this together,” he reminded her.
“Together,” she echoed.
Neither of them mentioned that with the case closed their marriage was no longer necessary.
Chapter Fourteen
Bailey was flying high as they pulled in front of the house. When no one ran to greet them, she assumed they were off foraging in the woods. It was a bit of a letdown. She had exciting news and no one to share it with.
“Let’s get the groceries inside.” Nicholas was already out of the truck and dragging a large cooler from the back. This time of year it was a necessity for all the meat, dairy, and frozen foods.
She loaded up with four bags and followed. The house was eerily silent without the kids’ voices. She went to the kitchen window and looked out.
“I’m sure they’re fine.” He put his hands on her shoulders and kissed the top of her head. “If you’re worried, I’ll go look for them.”
“No, I’m being silly. Emmett takes them into the woods all the time. They’re all competent, even Eliza.”
“It’s not silly to care.” He turned her so she was facing him. She found herself being drawn into the depths of his golden eyes. She leaned forward. He released her and took a step back. “I’ll get the rest of the groceries.”
“Right. Sure.” God, she’d almost kissed him. What had she been thinking? Maybe that there was an empty bed down the hall and no kids around. Oh, and it had been days since they’d had sex. It was only the excitement of having the CPS situation resolved. It was only natural to want to celebrate. Had nothing at all to do with her growing attachment to the man she’d married.
She wandered over to the table, and her gaze fell on a folded piece of paper. Snatching it up, she began to read.
“What is it?” Nicholas brought in the last of the cloth bags and set them on the floor.
“A note. Emmett must have gotten the idea from you.” She glanced at clock, comparing the time her brother had jotted on the paper. “He said they got a late start. They’ve only been gone half an hour. He says not to worry.”
Nicholas chuckled. “He knows you well.” He opened the fridge and began to load in produce, putting the older items to the front and the newer ones to the back.
Someone had trained him well. Better yet, he’d listened. He could be overbearing, an alpha at his core, but he didn’t expect others to cater to him. It added to his appeal.
With the two of them working, it took no time to get everything put away and the bags stored back in the pantry.
Strong arms wrapped around her from behind, and lips grazed the curve of her neck. “It hasn’t escaped my notice that we’re home alone.”
She tilted her head to one side, giving him better access. He nibbled on her earlobe before tugging on it. A whimper of need escaped her. Sparks of desire exploded to life. “I, ah, I noticed that, too.” How could she be expected to concentrate on anything with his tongue tracing the whorls of her ear?
“Do we stay here or go look for them?” He left a trail of hot kisses along her jawline.
Torn between duty and pleasure, she moaned. There was no reason to believe the kids were in any danger. Emmett would watch over them. She’d be more concerned about them being in town. They were at home in these woods, were familiar with every nook and cranny. It was a constant balancing act between allowing the kids to stretch their wings and gain confidence and keeping them safe. Emmett always took his phone on these outings. If there was a problem, he’d call.
