Seduced by Innocence (13 page)

"What does your family do?" I looked around the house for clues about his life, but it was pretty generic. Maybe they rented it out and kept personal effects out of reach.

"They own a few businesses. It went global years ago through a combination of hard work and luck. Don't get me wrong, my parents are devoted to their work and to their family, but it's not the life I want."

"I can relate to not wanting to follow in your parents’ footsteps."

"What do your parents do?"

I rubbed Sandy's belly; she'd taken up residence next to Derek on the couch. "They breed Huskies. It was Sandy's babies that were killed the other night. She's not taking it well."

"I'm so sorry. I didn't know. We'll make sure to take her on walks and help her recover."

Warmth spread in my chest. "Really?"

"Of course." He patted his lap, and she eagerly moved to lay her head on him, eyes closed as he rubbed his hands over her.

Lucky dog.

"Animals are sacred beings and deserve our respect, love and care. I admire the fact that your family works with dogs. They are often mirrors that reflect the areas we humans still need to work on. So many pet owners think that when they have an out-of-control dog, it's the dog's fault, when really the dog is reflecting back to the owner something about them that is out of alignment."

I'd never heard someone give voice to what I had always believed. "No wonder Sandy adores you."
No wonder I adore you.

Derek moved Sandy off of his lap and walked to the stone fireplace. With precision, he laid each log piece down and then lit the fire, fanning it until it filled the center with an orange and red flame.

"Did you chop that wood yourself?" Images of his hard body, shirtless, muscles flexing as he swung the ax flooded my brain.

"Actually, I did. Are you impressed?"

"Very."

"Good." He joined me back on the couch and put his arm around me, pulling our bodies closer together. "I like impressing you."

I rested my head on his shoulder and enjoyed the smell of freshly-cut wood burning, and the warmth of the fire as it filled the room with silhouettes of flames dancing on the walls.

Derek leaned in and cupped my face with his hand, then kissed me deeply.

My body responded immediately, tensing and aching, but I cut the kiss short and pulled away. "Before we do this, we need to talk about the rules."

"There are rules?"

"Yes."

"Okay, let's hear them."

"First, no sexual intercourse." Best to keep it clinical, detached, official.

His face froze. "None at all?"

"None at all. Not during this trip."

He nodded. "I can live with that, though it will be
very hard
."

I bet it would.
Man, I hated having rules.

"Second rule, if things get too hot and I pull back, that's it. We stop."

"Always. You don't even have to say it, Rose. I'd never push you past your comfort zone. Even if we were naked, wrapped around each other, and I'd already pushed my cock into you, if you said to stop, we'd be done."

Oh, the brat. His words had their desired effect, and my panties bore witness to that effect.

My voice cracked when I spoke again. "Rule three, no long term promises. We use this time to get to know each other, but we don't commit to anything beyond this until we each have time alone to reflect on what we really want."

This last rule was in some ways the hardest. With every kiss and every touch, we shaped a future out of wishes and longing. I didn't want to destroy that life before it had begun, but in thirteen days I would be facing off with the most powerful people I'd ever met. I might not live through the night. If I did, I'd likely never be the same again. These rules existed to protect us both.

He sat in silence so long that I worried I'd ruined things already.

Through the window, a family of deer crossed the dewy lawn, stopping to stare in at us. I wondered what they thought of these strange creatures locked in glass and wooden boxes, viewing the world through their self-imposed prisons.

Derek brushed a loose hair from my face. "If you need these rules to feel safe with me, then I'll honor them. But I'm not going to lie to you, Rose. I want more than stolen kisses and fleeting emotions. I never thought any woman could lure me from my vagabond life, but you have, and I'm not giving you up without a fight."

See how she leans her cheek upon her hand.

O that I were a glove upon that hand

That I might touch that cheek!

— William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

I'D SURPRISED MYSELF
with my bold declaration, but I'd meant what I'd said. I wouldn't give her up without a fight. I hadn't worked out what that would mean for my future, and maybe I wasn't quite ready to sort out those details, but whatever my future entailed, I knew Rose was a part of it.

As the sky outside burned bright with the dying rays of a setting sun, I held her, content to listen to the steady rhythm of her breath and imagine what fantasies floated around in her mind as she gazed at the fire.

The occasional hitch in her pulse told of unspoken fears, and yet I sat on the outside of her nightmares, a mere spectator of the aftereffects. She clearly hoped her rules would protect her. She didn't understand that I too would offer up my life in her defense. Whatever she feared, whatever dark turn the future foretold for her, I'd be by her side.

But her last rule did buy me time to talk with my family and figure out the best way to tell her my secret. I'd take her to the rose garden and let her feel the power that my family guarded. Then I'd show her my other form, and pray that she could take in all that I offered.

My father had found a woman who could embrace our life as her own, who chose to take the magic in and become a shifter. Surely other such women existed. Surely Rose was one of them.

She had to be, or none of this made any sense and fate was just a cruel heartless bitch punishing people for the fun of it.

A surge of power infused me as the waning moon rose high in the sky.

She shifted in my arms and stretched. Outside, snow like powdered sugar fell to the ground, clinging to the grass and bushes as winter settled in around us.

"What would you like to do tonight, Rose?"

She glanced outside, toward the hot tub. My cock hardened at just the thought of being submerged in hot water with her near-naked body.

"Want to go for a dip?" she asked.

"It's cold out." Not that I wanted to dissuade her. God, no. But I had to at least act the gentleman.

"That's my favorite time to go. When it's cold and snow is falling. The warmth of the water and chill of the air are at odds with each other. Seemingly opposite elements, yet they balance each other, creating a perfect environment for enjoying the evening."

"Beautifully put. You brought a suit?"
Say no. Please say no so we can skinny-dip.

"Yes. At least, I'm pretty sure I did. Ocean did most of the packing."

If not naked, then a swimsuit Ocean would have packed would be the next best thing. "Let's go change. I can use the hall bathroom if you want to use the bedroom."

We hadn't talked about who would sleep where, but I'd put all of our luggage in the master suite. I didn't want to bring it up for fear of jinxing my chance to land in bed with her organically, even if it was to be a chaste affair.

I needn't have worried about whether her bathing suit would be sexy. When she came downstairs she had a towel wrapped tightly around her, but what little I could see convinced me I'd have to thank Ocean when this was over. For my part, I had the standard guy trunks. I wondered if women had a preference for what was sexiest? Surely they didn't think speedos were a big turn-on. I'd have to remember to ask Tammy sometime.

"Ready to go outside?"

She braced herself and nodded.

When I opened the door, a gust of cold air blew in, sending goosebumps up both of our arms.

We half ran, half walked to the hot tub and I pulled the cover off, revealing a pool full of steaming water. I turned the bubbles and lights on and offered her my hand. "Ladies first."

She looked down at herself and, without raising her eyes, dropped her towel on the chair next to her.

A red string bikini—emphasis on string—clung to her as if its tiny life depended on it. From head to toe, she was the most stunning creature I'd ever seen, with long legs that I desperately wanted wrapped around my waist. And perfectly round breasts that I'd felt, but hadn't seen or tasted—yet. Her nipples pressed against the thin fabric, round and hard, probably from the cold, but maybe from desire. A flat stomach and curved hips. I wanted to run my tongue across every inch of her flesh, then part her thighs and explore her from the inside.

She raised her eyes just in time to see the effect her choice of swimwear had on me.

I met her eyes, unashamed of my arousal. It wasn't just her body that gave me these cravings. Knowing the kind of person she was on the inside made her outer beauty all the more sensational.

She took my hand and stepped into the tub. I followed her, pressing my chest against her back and wrapping my hands around her stomach.

Pulling her unto my lap, I traced a line down her neck with my tongue as my hands began to massage her thighs.

Perhaps unconsciously, she let her knees fall open, allowing access to her center. My massages moved higher, brushing my hands against her pussy, teasing her clit through her bathing suit. I continued the massage with one hand as my other hand moved up her body, cupping her breast and teasing her hard nipples. "You are magnificent."

She moaned, leaning into me, rubbing herself against my hand. Taking that as an invitation, I pushed her bathing suit bottom to the side and slipped my finger along the swollen lips of her pussy.

She grabbed my forearms, digging her nails into me.

My finger slid deeper into her, into her center. Her muscles gripped my finger, and I imagined my cock in that tight, warm spot. She was so small that I'd have to ease into her gently. With my thumb I rubbed against her clit while pushing my finger all the way into her and stroking the pleasure spot deep within. She bucked against my hand, clawing at my arms and moaning.

I could have fucked her then and there, but I knew I had to take it slow. I couldn't break any of her rules.

Slowly I stroked, teasing and building up to the release I knew she needed and wanted.

Before we could reach that climax, she pushed off me, pulling my hands off of her and faced me from a few feet away.

"That was… I can't even tell you how amazing that was, but I need to slow down. It's too much, too soon."

My cock ached with need, but I nodded. "Of course. I promised we'd stop whenever you needed to, though I must say you have more self-control than I do."

She looked down at my shorts and smiled. "I have an idea. What if… " She turned scarlet red, but kept talking. "What if we, um, you know, pleasured ourselves, here in the Jacuzzi, in front of each other. No touching, just looking."

I'd never been so turned on in all of my life.

Without a word, I pulled my cock out of my shorts and stroked myself, looking her square in the eyes.

Her lips formed an 'O' but no sound came out. I almost laughed, but I was waiting for her to reciprocate.

She reached behind and untied her bathing suit top. With deliberate movement, she pulled one strap down, then the other, holding the small triangles of fabric to her chest. With a teasing smile, she pulled the bathing suit away, revealing her perfect breasts and rose-colored nipples. I had to force myself to stay still, to not reach over there and tease her with my tongue and teeth.

With one hand she massaged her tits, stroking and pulling at her nipples. I memorized her movements, her speed, the amount of pressure she used, so I could give her the satisfaction she craved when I finally got permission to lavish her with my attention.

With her other hand she slipped off her bathing suit bottoms, and my hand stilled at the sight of her naked, the lights and water playing over her skin.

She sat on the seat and spread her legs. Through the water I could see everything. The way her pink skin flowered out to reveal the one place I wanted to bury myself in so bad.

When she fingered herself while rubbing against her clit, I stroked my cock harder, faster, imagining us together, fucking. Making love.

Never had being with a girl felt so sensual, even though I couldn't actually
be
with her. I wondered if I could really leave this—leave her—when it was time to ride back to my old life. With her, I felt born again, like anything was possible and my life had just begun. Was this what poets called love?

My mind narrowed in, losing its words, as her body trembled with impending climax.

A coil of tension built at the center of my body, tightening with each stroke of my hand. A pressure to let go and give into the need that burned through me.

When the pressure reached its apex, ecstasy filled me, flooding my body with fire and ice.

We reached our climax simultaneously, each moaning in pleasure as we gave in to the fantasy of our coupling.

Spent, satiated, but with an aching need that my own hand could never satisfy, I reached for her and she came willingly, collapsing in my arms as I held her and kissed her head.

Someday soon I would convince her to let me to do to her all the things she had just done to herself and more.