Tales Of The Sazi 05 - Moon's Fury (35 page)

Nodding while hiding a small smile at the name, she picked up the handles of the elegant bag from the gift shop downstairs. The change of clothes and toiletries she'd purchased—for an ungodly price

—would at least make her presentable to her new pack members tomorrow. "Yeah. Okay, then." She lifted the vase lightly. "Thanks again for the flowers …and the dinner—especially the
sopapillas
for dessert. I don't think anyone's ever gone to this much trouble just to apologize to me before.”

He paused and then his voice softened as he slid the card key into the door slot and turned the knob when the green light blinked. "Nobody's ever been
worth
the trouble before …my Alpha." Magic tingled her again, but this time it was intentional. With a small gasp, she looked at his face, and immediately got lost in his drowning deep blue eyes— flickering with the same ethereal power that danced over her skin like a thousand tiny fingers. Panic spread through her in a wave and she backed up a pace, bumping her back against the wall next to her door. He didn't follow, didn't press his advantage, even though a small part of her wanted him to. Instead, he offered a small smile, pulled back his magic, and walked through the door with his bags while she stood, frozen in place, trying to get her heart to start beating again.

25

Adam pressed the button on the remote to change the channel again and watched ambulance doors fly open on the screen. It didn't have as much impact with no sound, but he'd really hoped to hear a knock on the connecting doors between their rooms and didn't want to miss it. He added another pillow to the pile behind his back, and crossed his jean-clad legs on the bed while reaching for the bottle of water on the night stand.

His tongue pressed his molar again and was glad it was starting to firm up in the gum. Maybe this sip wouldn't hurt as much as the last one. A quick touch of his fingers against his jaw confirmed that the swelling was nearly gone. Man, could that woman punch! He hadn't taken a shot like that since Josef pounded on him for the newspaper article about wolves last fall. Another quick glance at the door didn't make it any more open than a second ago, but he couldn't help himself. Was she still mad?

I
would have sworn Reggie had been right on the money about how to make up to her.
She'd responded like clockwork to the flowers, the dinner, and the fight. It wasn't in his nature to argue about pack politics, but he had to admit it was sort of cathartic—especially this close to the moon. Even though taking the punch full on and hitting his head had really rung his chimes, it
had
shocked Cara out of yelling enough that she raced to pick him back up and spent the next few minutes apologizing until he convinced her to stop.

And oh, baby—the sensation of healing magic after she'd helped him to a bench to shake it off—

that definitely made it worthwhile. It had boiled his blood enough that he nearly threw her to the ground, right there on the cobbled path. The glittering strands of lights under the star-filled sky hadn't had anything on those glowing golden eyes as power flared between them. But he'd been so damned dizzy for those first few minutes that he hadn't dared any quick movements. Still, the way she reacted just now to the light touch of magic, he'd been sure—

"Damn." He shook his head in frustration and turned off the television, and then swung his feet to the floor while muttering. "Face it, Mueller, you had your chance and screwed it up. Let it go.”

It really was going to be a busy day tomorrow, so maybe it was best to just take a shower and go to bed.

Still…just to be safe.
He silently unlocked the deadbolt on his way to the bathroom.

* * *

Cara took another sip of way too expensive bottled water and tugged at the bodice of the pale yellow nightgown she'd purchased downstairs. It pushed and pulled in all the wrong directions and was going to be miserable to sleep in.
Why in the world didn't I try this thing on before I plunked down
my card?

The answer in her head came in the form of Yolanda's voice. That was the problem with having an opinionated, smart-aleck best friend—she'd even managed to infect Cara's own logic center.
Because
you didn't expect to wear it all night, stupida!

She looked from the spray of pink poinsettia blossoms in the cylindrical glass vase on the dresser to the door that connected her room to Adam's. How long had it taken to track down the flowers at this time of year—and when was the last time she'd gotten flowers from a man
at all?
Another glance at the door didn't change anything, although she could have sworn she heard a noise a few minutes ago. But nothing had happened since and now her nerves were starting to get to her. Was he mad that she hit him?

She supposed he had every right to be—especially if they were really supposed to be co-rulers of the pack. He hadn't really said anything that she didn't already know. But she hated this whole situation

…hated the complete lack of control over the lives of so many people, and she'd taken it out on him. She stood up and slipped on the matching silken knee-length robe and crossed her arms over her chest—which threatened to pop her breasts right out the top of the nearly translucent fabric. Again she flipped back her hair and rugged it up, even as a part of her was wishing she had the nerve to just take it off and knock on the door, stark naked, and ask him for what she wanted. She just couldn't deny it anymore. She wanted him to toss her on the bed and make her body
feel.
The tiny bits of magic he'd been throwing at her all evening were a nearly constant torment that quickened her breath every time she moved. Did he feel it, too? Was he waiting for her to make the first move? The way he'd looked at her out on the path…and there was no denying the increasing musk in his scent as their arguments moved from terse, nearly whispered words to yells that probably reached the street above the river.
Just do it. Stand up on your hind legs and do it!
Again, Yo's voice in her mind taunted her, even ending with the same frustrated harsh breath.
What's the worst he's going to do?

Laugh.

Wasn't that what she was really afraid of? That a powerful Alpha, years older than her, would laugh at her for throwing herself at him like a crushing teenager?

"But I'm not a teenager. I'm the Alpha Female of a werewolf pack, and I get to be attracted to an Alpha Male." Her own voice sounded strange to her ears, and she paused, as though she was waiting for someone in the empty room to contradict her.

Taking a deep breath, she reached for the door, turned open the deadbolt, and opened it to reveal…another door. She stared stupidly at it for a space of a few seconds then let out a sharp bark of laughter. Of
course
there'd be a second door in a hotel. Not that many guests arrived in groups large enough to need two rooms and who would want someone to be able to just waltz into their room? She heard water running in the background, but she couldn't tell if it was in Adam's room or the one overhead.

Here was the real test now. Was
his
door unlocked? She reached for the knob, feeling nearly apart from herself, but then stopped.
Maybe it would be better to knock.
Even the little Yolanda in her head couldn't argue with that logic and she raised up her hand. The tentative knock still sounded far too loud, but the water turned off instantly, and her stomach fluttered as distinct footsteps created fine tremors in the carpet under her bare feet. Her fingers clenched on the handle of her own door, her every muscle screaming to slam it shut…ignore this for another day. But then it was too late, because his door opened, and she froze anew, her eyes wide with both panic and sudden, irresistible desire. The running water had apparently been the shower, because he was naked from the waist up, his lower body covered only by a fluffy white towel that reached his knees. The dark hair she'd wanted to run her fingers through all evening was damp and smelled of herbal shampoo and fur and his face was clean shaven again. Would his jaw glide against her chest, or her thighs? Would she like it better than the stubble?

He didn't move or speak. He just stood there, barely breathing, his hand mirroring hers on the edge of his door.

Droplets of water covered his neck and broad, muscled chest—with only one remaining scar across those rock solid abs to mar the perfection. Steam rose from his skin when the air conditioner suddenly clicked on. She couldn't seem to take her eyes off one drop, larger than all the others, that quivered in the hollow of his throat.

The voice that reached her ears was a harsh whisper that pulled at things low in her body. "Go ahead. I know you want to." Adrenaline musk filled her nose and suddenly there was nothing but the sound of her own heart and the trembling bit of water on smooth skin that she had to taste or fear going mad.

Cara was suddenly powerless to stop herself and stepped forward, across the threshold, and flicked out her tongue to catch the water as it escaped. He didn't move, but the tiny growl that escaped him vibrated his skin beneath her frantically moving lips and tongue. God, he tasted so good! She lapped up drop after drop of clean, cool water, like melted snow that smelted of pines and fur. It wasn't until the last drop was gone that she came partially back to her senses. She moved back her head…only to discover his fingers threaded through her hair, holding her tight against him.

"Don't stop. Jesus, don't stop now." His voice was rough; needy, and she finally looked up to see his eyes burning with dark intensity and his nostrils flared. "Not now." He lowered those velvety lips to hers and an ache of pleasure ripped through her as he claimed her mouth with a hunger her own body matched, movement for movement. Ten times more intense than the stolen kiss in the dark alley or even in her kitchen—he raked her body with magic, no longer trying to hide what he was …or what he wanted.

His erection pushed at her stomach, and when he wrapped his arms tightly around her and stepped backward, pulling her into his room, the towel dropped away and his pulsing cock brushed against her naked leg. With a movement so quick it drew a gasp from her that exited into his searching mouth, he had her legs wrapped around his waist. Cara suddenly remembered she wasn't wearing panties, and couldn't remember if it had been intentional. But the feeling of him rubbing between her legs was nearly enough to make her pass out.

He apparently realized it, too, because he didn't even try to pretend. He reached down and took hold of himself while at the same time pressing her up against the wall. She didn't even have time to breathe before he slid himself inside her.

She could feel it happening again …felt the roar of the wolf race through her veins and then suddenly she didn't care anymore that there was no condom, no protection. She didn't care about anything but the aching need and the scent and sound of a growling wolf as powerful as the one inside her. She answered his growl as his tongue began to thrust against hers, matching the movements of his hips.

Her muscles clenched around his swollen organ, pulling him ever deeper inside. Magic made her skin burn and her nipples ache as he drove into her, again and again—taking her higher than she ever dreamed possible.

His fingers dug into her lower back, then moved to cup her thighs as he began to raise and lower her whole body, sliding her up and down the wall, while he drove into her. It was too much sensation and she tried to push him back, tried to lower her rising panic as a massive orgasm grew inside her belly. She could feel it building with every movement but she couldn't break free of his desperate mouth against hers

—his lips, teeth and tongue pulling as much pleasure from her as the frantic movements of his hips. The scents that filled her nose, musk and cinnamon and her own maddening pheromones, caused a series of spasms that was pure, delicious torture.

Then he started to toy with her, taking her right to the brink before easing back, slowing his thrusts, but never taking his mouth away, or relieving the pressure keeping her against the wall. Her own body betrayed her head as she dug her fingers into his muscles, desperate for him to continue. The pressure of the impending climax made her legs tighten on his hips, pulling him closer. And then it was too late, too late to do anything but scream into his mouth as a wave of pleasure claimed her. White lights erupted behind her eyelids as she came and her muscles clenched around him hard enough that his movements became more labored. She was suddenly, abruptly tight and hot enough to burn—

every nerve was awakened and she could feel his power, his magic, slice deep within her. It intensified the sensation enough that a second orgasm ripped through her before the first was done. Energy burst from her in a shock wave that slammed shut the door to her room and threatened to drop them both to the floor. That was too much for him. With a deep moan she felt him swell inside her, scorching already sensitized nerves as his own orgasm took him. It was a half dozen more thrusts before he finally slowed, but his kisses became less desperate and more passionate. By the time he pulled himself free of her, he was butterfly kissing her nose, her cheeks, her eyelids. It wasn't until he'd lowered her to the ground that she realized he had been wearing a condom after all—though when he'd found time to put it on was beyond her. She motioned downward at his crotch as she tugged and shifted cloth to fit her chest back inside the teddy. "Um, thanks for that." Even though she wasn't positive she was thankful. It was something she still struggled to fit in the confines of her beliefs.

He smiled and it was both thick with satisfaction and lecherous. "Hopefully I'll remember next time, too. Now, how about we get you out of that sweat-soaked robe and nightie and into a hot shower?

'Cause it's going to be a long, long night…
my Alpha."

26

She's in the shower and she's nervous.
Adam tucked his hands behind his head and closed his eyes, luxuriating in the thick sheets and pillowy mattress while breathing in the scent of her body and their shared pleasure. Was he just imagining he could see her in the shower in his mind— looking wet and soapy and utterly delicious?
Reaching for the shampoo. Oops. She dropped the bottle.
The barely discernable thunk that reached his ears over the running water confirmed it and he nodded once.
I'm mated.
He tried it out loud next, just to see what it sounded like, but in a whisper too low to be heard. "I'm mated.”