Full Circle (Central Florida Pack Book 1) (7 page)

"Yeah, that one. Your father threatened to kill me if I laid a hand on you."

"You were his Alpha."

"That doesn't give me the right to lust after his seventeen-year-old daughter."

Her head fell back against the seat. "Is that why my parents shipped me off to prep school and then college?"

He growled. "Yes. They wanted to make sure you saw some of the world before I got my hands on you."

"What would have happened if I'd gotten married?"

The steering wheel creaked as leather and wood began to split under the force of Drake's grip.

She loved him, or at the least infatuation had grown into something stronger. She'd spent so much time thinking of herself as human that she wasn't sure if she would know how to recognize the signs of a mating for her wolf half. If she went with the premise that she was only human, was feeling the way she did right now enough to commit herself to Drake?

She had no one to ask. Her human friends were actually close acquaintances or coworkers who knew not to ask too many questions. They would think it was odd, anyway, if she asked them about love. And the Pack, the Pack was nothing more than a bunch of gossips. If she asked one, then all of them would know.

She let out a frustrated growl.

"You agreed to give me a chance. I'm asking for it again, Ria. I need for you to trust me."

"And what happens if this doesn't work?"

"Then I let you walk away."

Ria finally looked over at him. His eyes were wolf bright, his body tense with trying to hold back. She could see the effort it cost him not to just impose his will. She'd forgotten a wolf's drive to pursue its prey, and in the forgetting, she'd pushed him to fight his instinct. While he was circling back to the house, she knew if she asked, he would turn around and drive her to her house. But she couldn't keep torturing either of them.

"I don't know if I'll ever have the same mating instinct you have."

"You're half wolf, Ria, but you're also human, and both sides believe in love."

"Love?"

"Love and mating are basically the same thing, aren't they?"

"Except that mating is for life and…"

"And if done right, love is, too."

He was right. Mating might be something a wolf couldn't escape. But love was both a feeling and a choice. If done right, both would last for a lifetime. She and Drake both deserved to know where this was headed. And she had to be the one brave enough to say yes.

Ria licked her lips, swallowed and took the leap. "I'm willing to find out."

The ride back was silent. The only sound that filled the cab was that of their breathing. She could only stare straight ahead at the road she knew would take them to his home. The sound of her heartbeat filled her ears as they drove up to the house. Drake opened the SUV's door for her.

He stood, his hand out, waiting for her to take his.

"Thank you." Her voice sounded rusty to her ears as her palm slid into place against his much-larger, callused one.

"You're welcome." His response rumbled through her body, adding tremors as it went. Low and gravelly, it drew her even closer to him. They stood there, between the door and the SUV, their bodies touching, breath mingling, her hand still in his. They were in full view of the Pack. Ria ducked her head, and the moment broke.

As he led her through the house, they were both silent. Neither made a sound until they were in his suite. Drake's face was a hard mask. His eyes searched her face even as his nostrils flared. Ria wondered what he scented. Was it her desire, or her fear?

She licked her lips as she watched him deliberately turn, close the door and engage the lock. He stood tall and strong before her. Ria's palms itched to touch him. She twisted her purse strap instead. He moved closer, his eyes trained on hers. Ria released her grip on her purse and heard it hit the floor as his hands glided along her cheeks to cup her face.

Drake covered her lips with his. Ria gave in and let the world fall away, held in place by his lips on hers. She sucked in air when Drake lifted his lips from hers. Her eyes were slower to comply, but her lids lifted and she found herself gazing in to his glowing eyes. They were bright in a face hardened by passion. Ria breathed in a shaky breath as she held his gaze. When he looked at her with that much heat and longing, Ria knew he was holding back. Judging by the gentle way he touched her, he was afraid he would hurt her.

Ria closed her eyes as Drake's fingers slid down her arms to capture hers. He drew her into his bedroom, stopping only to close the doors, giving them another layer of privacy before he took her mouth again. Ria lost herself in Drake's taste, the feel of his tongue against hers driving her higher. Her hands crept up the front of his shirt. Her fingers slipped upward, caressing skin and slipping into his silky hair as he pulled her closer. Drake's body was hard against hers, and she melted into him. She didn't fight it anymore and let every bit of her wanting for him pour free.

The backs of her legs hit the bed as Drake let her free with a growl. His eyes, wolfbright, kept her attention until he began to trace her skin with his fingertips, his hands shaking. He was tracing where her shoulder met her neck, one of the places she would love to feel his teeth. She shivered under his scrutiny and tilted her head to give him greater access. Ria couldn't stop the cry that erupted from her lips as Drake's lips followed his fingers.

His hands stopped moving. Ria opened her eyes. Instead of feeling like a cornered fox at the end of a hunt, she felt exhilarated and safe at the same time. A fuzzy knowledge filled her head. He thought she was beautiful.
Closer.

Closer.
It sounded like Drake, but neither of them had spoken. He began tugging his shirt up. She wanted skin. His skin, against hers. When he reached down and picked her up, Ria gladly wrapped her legs around his hips and let him lay her down on the bed. And as soon as her back touched the bed, her hands were busy again.

Her fingertips met the hot, hard plane of his abs. Drake sucked in a breath above her and sat back from her. He was beautiful to behold:skin slightly tanned from all the time he spent in the sun, not an ounce of fat on him, one or two scars from injuries that hadn't healed right the first time.

Ria's hands dipped lower. His eyes closed as she traced a line down his stomach. Here she held power. It made her bold to see him still and powerful atop her. She kept going, undoing his belt and jeans. Slipping her hand inside. Smiling in triumph as her hand closed over her prize. Only to have his hand close over hers and squeeze, moving her hand up and down his shaft. Ria reveled in the expression on his face.

Drake's eyes opened, and Ria felt her heart rate pick up. Gently, he removed her hand and backed off the bed to shed his jeans in record time.
Commando.
She couldn't help the grin that spread across her face.

He crooked an eyebrow at her. "I'm not going to be the only one naked here." He gripped her ankle and pulled her down to the edge of the bed with a grin of his own. It turned wicked. Once he divested her of her boots and pants, he made quick work of her top and bra. He wanted nothing in his way. Drake smoothed his hands up her calves, up her thighs, and traced the line of her thong. "So this is what's under your work clothes? I like."

His head was bent, poised to deliver a kiss to her stomach. Ria laid back. Her body bare, except for a cotton thong and a wolf at her stomach.

Drake nuzzled her stomach and dropped a kiss there before crawling up her body. Inch by slow delicious inch, with his eyes locked on hers, he pushed himself between her legs. Ria arched up to meet him, greedy for his touch.

If he was right about her being his mate, this was the way it was supposed to be. If he wasn't, then she was grabbing at this with both hands and taking it all while she could. She loved him. She always would.

The only sounds in the darkened room were their breathing and skin connecting with skin. Ria held fast to the man who drew her closer and closer to ecstasy with every touch and kiss. She reveled in the way he touched her. His hands were firm but careful.

Mine.

The word reverberated through her body just as Drake pushed her over the edge. She felt it deep inside her. Ria came back to earth slowly, aware that Drake was watching her. He was still hard inside her. Waiting for her to come back so he could do it again, and she was willing to do it all again.

Except she was sure of one thing, he hadn't spoken the word
mine
. In fact, her eyes had been wide open and she'd been looking at him.

His eyes focused, jaw locked tight as he watched her go over again. She could feel him waiting as he nuzzled the underside of her jaw. He made a contented sound and settled into a slow rhythm.

Ria's hips rolled under his, drawn into a dance with a very certain outcome. He licked at her neck again. The wolf was listening intently to her heart beat, and the man was ready to sink his teeth into the place where her neck and shoulder met. Eager to mark her as his.

She tilted her neck and felt the wave of satisfaction, possession and triumph that rushed through him. When his fangs closed over her skin, she rode the wave of rightness into oblivion.

Chapter Five

Ria woke to Drake leaving the bed. She studied his body as he moved to the door of the suite. Muscles bunched and rippled. She sat up, ready to suggest a pair of pants, when it struck her that she'd have to get used to his nudity. Werewolves weren't exactly known for their modesty. Still, she was relieved when he grabbed a pair of pajama bottoms from the bottom of the night stand.

He opened the door, but not before shooting her a smile. He'd probably heard her eyelids open. She chuckled, wrapping the sheets around herself more securely.

Then Ria realized that James stood in the doorway, sheepishly avoiding her gaze. There was no way for her to get out and get dressed without James seeing her naked behind. She was trapped. Ria ducked under the comforter Drake had thrown over her. She made herself as small as possible, until she was sure nothing, not even the top of her head, could be seen from the door.

The sound of Drake closing the pocket doors to the bedroom followed. Ria popped her head above the covers and immediately began to grab her clothing, while keeping an ear on the conversation through the door.

"What's going on?" Drake asked his second.

"Doc called. The wolf is stabilized. We might be able to get some answers. You said you wanted to be there."

Fully dressed and doing her best to control her now-tousled curls, Ria eased the door open and caught James' eye. Curiosity and concern trumped her embarrassment. She stood just behind Drake and listened to them discuss Pack business.

"Is Tim okay?"

"He's fine, the meal Ria had ready plus some raw meat did him good. His parents already picked him up."

She hesitated a beat before asking, "Do we know why he was attacked?"

"No, hopefully we'll find that out now."

Drake reached back and drew her to his side, sliding an arm around her waist. Ria stilled at his touch. Drake dipped his head and inhaled her scent mixed with his, combined with fear and hope. He dropped a kiss on her shoulder.

James moved out into the hallway, giving them a small bit of privacy.

Drake nuzzled her neck as the pressure of his hands on her hips increased. He turned her to face him. Ria glanced at the door. "Easy."

He cupped her face between his hands. "My wolf feels the need to mark you, even if it's just James who's been talking to you."

Ria closed her eyes as he traced the mark he made on her neck. She could swear she felt his regret and his reluctance at leaving her, even as her body softened and leaned into his.

"I'll be back."

"Be safe." She didn't let the words go that she'd held inside for years. She was afraid to. Instead, she leaned forward and caught his lips in a gentle kiss that was filled with everything she wanted to say.

James coughed from the doorway.

Drake smiled against her mouth and pulled back. "I will."

***

"They pumped him full of something," Doc said.

He and Drake stood side by side, Doc with his shirtsleeves rolled up and arms folded as he contemplated the cage in front of them. The silver bars weakened anyone attempting to get out.

"Do you know with what?" Drake smelled the frustration coming off of Doc. The expert was stumped, and that didn't make Drake feel any better. He had a lone wolf with a hair trigger in his territory, hopped up on some sort of designer drug. "Do you think it's out of his system?"

"I don't know. We can't let him out. It took a hell of a lot to just get blood from him."

Doc held up his rapidly healing arm. To anyone else, the slight red marks wouldn't mean anything, but to a wolf, it meant that Doc had almost lost a good chunk of his arm in the attempt.

"What you're saying is, he's out of his mind. And, we have no way of knowing what his state of mind was before he or whoever the hell it was pumped him full of an unknown drug."