Tarnished (8 page)

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“Kenzie.” Drake squeezed his mate’s leg under the jacket she’d covered up with. She was dead to the world. When she finally opened one eye, he smiled. Everyone had jumped out of the car at the main house, and she’d not even flinched. He’d decided to spare her the parental introductions until tomorrow. It was almost ten, and she was so peaceful. He didn’t want to upset her any more than necessary tonight.

His parents knew she was with them, but they hadn’t balked when he’d spoken to them on the phone. Tomorrow was soon enough.

“Where are we?”

“My place. Come on.” He took her arm and pulled her toward him.

She glanced at the back seat. “Wow. I must have been dead. I never heard anyone get out.”

“Yeah, they were quiet. I threatened them.”

“How far away is it?” She squinted her eyes, but he knew she couldn’t see much in the dark. Only a porch light he always left on burned in the vicinity.

“It’s about half a mile. Not far. I walk it often. You’ll meet my parents tomorrow.” He stepped down from the cab as she scooted in his direction. She didn’t even protest when he grabbed her by the waist and lowered her to the ground.

He wanted to hold her and never let her go as her body skimmed down his. She sucked in a breath. Good. He affected her. He had moments of doubt about that. It pained him to step back.

“Wait. I’m staying here? With you? Alone?”

“Of course…” He let that last word drag out.
Not of course
. He couldn’t see her face well in this light. “Kenzie, the idea is to get to know one another. Believe me, you don’t want to spend the week with my three brothers and my meddling mother.”

“I guess.” She didn’t seem convinced as she shuffled one sandaled toe on the gravel.

He grabbed both their bags from the bed of the truck and led her toward the front. “Come on. I can’t promise perfection inside. I wasn’t expecting to bring someone home with me.”

“You weren’t? Wasn’t that the goal?” She stood behind him when he set the suitcases down on the porch and reached into his pocket for his keys.

“Not for me. I gave that up two years ago. The bachelor life was my destiny. I’d accepted it.” He opened the door and swung his arm out to let her pass first.

“What happened two years ago to solidify that decision?” She ducked under his arm to enter the dark house.

He followed her inside and dropped the bags, kicking the door shut behind him. “I saw you leave that hall with another wolf. That’s what happened.”

She gasped. “You were that certain from that far away?”

“I was.” It was true. He’d known it even then. She couldn’t have, because that Marcus dude was smothering her. He’d nearly dragged her from the room. Drake flinched when he recalled her brief description of that evening.

He reached for the light switch and prayed he’d not left the place too disastrous.

Breathing a sigh of relief, he grabbed their bags and nodded toward the hall. “This way.”

God. She’s in my home.
The woman of his dreams was actually standing in his space. He couldn’t have her yet, but it was so nice just to know she would be nearby, smell her essence, share coffee with her in the morning.
If she drinks coffee…

His parents knew not to expect him bright and early tomorrow. He could spend some time showing her around the ranch … or just sitting inside the house with her.

He shook his head to clear it.
Don’t get ahead of yourself. She has consented to nothing.

He pushed open the first door, backing through it. “The master bedroom.” He dropped his bag and flipped on another light.
Good. Not too messy
.

She stayed outside the room, barely glancing in. Her entire body was rigid, her arms crossed over her chest in her telltale sign of stress.

He stepped back into the hall and crossed to the other room. “Guest room. I’ll drop your stuff in here. There’s a bathroom in the hall.” He pointed. “And another attached to the master.”

She could have her own space if she needed it.

“Can I get you anything? A drink maybe?”

“No. I’m good. Just tired. Mind if I sleep?” She lifted her shoulders and held them high, not making eye contact with him.

He hated whoever had made her skittish with a passion. She was a vibrant beautiful woman with so much to offer. If he ever found out who’d done this damage, he’d personally kick his ass. “Of course. Rest. I’ll just be across the hall. Yell if you need anything. Okay?”

“Sure,” she muttered.

He stepped out fast. What he really wanted to do was wrap her in his arms and chase her fears away, but that wasn’t going to happen. At least not tonight. Maybe if he spent the entire day with her tomorrow, she’d lighten up. Especially when she saw the surprise he had for her. He couldn’t wait to see her face. And when his mom found out what her specialty was, she was going to flip out. Guaranteed. What they needed on this ranch more than anything in the world was a fulltime employee with just the education Kenzie had. He’d never force her to do anything she didn’t want to do, but he had a suspicion this was right up her alley.

He smiled as he entered his room. He didn’t shut the door. He hurried through his routine, brushing his teeth and taking a quick cold shower, as if that would lessen the permanent hard-on. Even if he jerked off, he knew his cock would not settle down. And no way would he risk masturbating with her across the hall. He couldn’t trust himself to stay quiet.

He pulled on his favorite comfortable cotton shorts and climbed into bed. Sleep would not be easy. He could smell her now. Her scent was filling his home. He both loved that fact and feared what would happen if she really did flee the ranch, never to return.

Kenzie took longer than him. He listened as she gathered her things and padded to the bathroom. Water ran. The toilet flushed. He groaned. He was falling hard for her. An ache that grew worse by the minute. His mate was here. He had to pinch himself to remind him it was real.

He tried to relax, flipping his pillow over again and again to get comfortable.

Kenzie shut the door to the guest room, and soon after she turned off the light.

My woman is sleeping across the hall. I’m so fucked.

This wasn’t how mating usually went. He knew that. He wasn’t stupid. Mates met and fucked themselves silly with all haste. It was unheard of to postpone the inevitable and nearly impossible, as his dick would attest to right now. No amount of squirming would appease the fellow.

Nope. Mates knew their fate immediately and often met at the exact gathering he’d just attended with full knowledge and intention of doing just that. Mating. So, it was little surprise that pairs of wolves often left the gathering together and started new lives without missing a beat.

No one pulled this stunt—one night of restless sleep in a hotel followed by a night alone in the same house pretending it was all good that she wasn’t ready. How the hell was she even functioning? If he stepped quietly into the hall, would he be able to hear her masturbating? Did women have some ability to do so quietly and not alert others to their ecstasy?

He wouldn’t know, but he’d sure like to watch and find out.

Ugh. Deep breath.
He gripped his cock with one hand and squeezed his eyes shut. He had to stop this line of thinking if he expected to live through the night.

Minutes ticked by. He was glad he didn’t have a grandfather clock that would pace the seconds, or he’d go mad.

A noise jerked him alert. He sat up and a silhouette filled the door. Only the faint light from the window made her visible. “You okay?”

She shifted in the doorframe. “No,” she muttered. “And I’m not happy about it, either.”

He smiled. He didn’t mean to make light of her situation, but he was so damn glad he wasn’t alone. She did care. He had to remind himself of that often since she insisted repeatedly to the contrary.

“Do you think I could get a small taste of that kiss you mentioned earlier?” She paused, and he held his breath. “If you don’t think it’s a good idea, I’ll understand. I’m not trying to be a bitch. Really, I’m not. I can’t offer more right now. I just … need you to hold me. You were right. My heart does race. My hands are sweaty. My brain is scrambled. And I want to be no other place than in your arms with your mouth on mine right now.”

She’d remembered every word. He swallowed. “Anything, babe. Anything you want. I made a promise to you. I won’t break that promise. You can trust me.”

She hesitated.

“Come here.” He held out a hand, and she stepped toward him.

When she reached the bed, he flipped the blanket back, grasped her hand, and pulled her to sit.

“I’m sorry. I’m … broken. This is too weird for me. I’m torn and stressed and angry and frustrated and a bitch. Please be patient with me.”

“Of course.” He tugged her hand. “Lie down. I’ll hold you. Maybe you can sleep.”
I know I won’t, but I don’t give a fuck what happens to me as long as you’re peaceful.

She settled in his arms, one he’d tucked under her head, and one he wrapped over her as he pulled the covers over her shivering form. He grazed her shoulder, soothing her with his fingers. He conjured up all the strength he had to remain still and calm. It was the greatest feat of his life.

She was stiff but still shaking. “I’m sorry. This is a bad idea.”

“You’re fine. Stop apologizing. Kenzie, you’re my mate. I’d do anything for you. Know that. I will not hurt you. Have I said that enough? I’ll keep telling you until you believe it in your heart and in your soul. Relax. This is going to be whatever you need it to be and nothing more.”

She struggled, bless her. And he held her shivering form as she continued to twitch with nervous energy. He could smell her arousal. She wore a T-shirt and soft shorts—the same sort of thing he’d seen her wearing this morning when he’d arrived at her door. Had that been just this morning?

She turned her face to him slowly. “Will you kiss me?”

He set his forehead against hers and breathed in her essence. She smelled of Kenzie, innocence and sweetness. Slowly, he lowered his lips to hers. He started out with the slightest grazing of his mouth over hers. Just a brush until she softened to his touch.

He nibbled her lower lip with both of his and then leaned closer and applied a fraction of pressure, kissing her with less than half the abandon he wanted to.

She was hesitant, although her body began to relax beneath his arm as she transferred her concentration to her mouth.

She tasted like heaven. He’d kissed other women, but none as sweet as her. Her innocence melted his heart. He consciously had to prevent himself from growling his humble appreciation for what she was giving him. Her first real kiss.
Please, God, allow me to have all her firsts. I promise to make her the happiest woman on earth if I may just have every first she ever needs.

After a minute of gentle kisses, he licked the seam of her lips. She opened for him, allowing him to trace a line over her teeth. She moaned softly, most likely unaware of her rapture.

A subtle tip of his head, and he locked their mouths together tighter, tasting, licking, memorizing her feel.

She gripped the arm he’d wrapped across her middle with both hands, her nails digging into his flesh and grounding him. He loved the contact. Anything from her was a blessing.

Louder moans escaped her lips, and she flinched. She broke off the kiss, turning her head away from him and gasping for air. “Oh God,” she muttered. Her grip tightened on his arm.

Her stiff body shifted toward him. He draped his top leg over hers. Her smooth skin felt so feminine against his rough leg.

“You okay?” he muttered. He dared to nibble her ear.

“I’m…” She didn’t finish the thought. She pushed against him and scrambled to stand next to the bed. She sucked in deep breaths, staring down at him. And then she turned and fled the room.

Drake face-planted into the pillow where her warm body had just vanished. It took him several minutes to recuperate from the intensity of that one kiss. Had he frightened her? Or had she frightened herself?

In the silence, he flipped over and stared at the ceiling. He had no idea how long it took, but eventually he fell asleep.

Kenzie slid back between the covers in the guest room, feeling out of control. It unnerved her to be unable to maintain a single thought. That man was like a drug. Her hands shook and she needed a “fix” like a junkie needed their next line of cocaine. Only in this case, she needed a different kind of relief.

She curled up into a ball and squeezed her legs together, wishing the ache would go away and return her to her normal state. This lack of control was annoying. And she didn’t want to succumb to the physical demands of her body. She was her own person. No one controlled her. Hell,
she
didn’t even control her right now.

Another fitful night passed with Kenzie tossing and turning on the bed, desperate for a comfortable position. Snatches of rest would end with her gasping for air and staring into the darkness as though she’d had a nightmare. The only nightmare was her fear of the unknown.

In the early dawn, she stared at the window. What would happen if she let Drake claim her? He already owned her. Her body aligned with his like a magnet. She was a fool to deny it.

The house was silent. She slinked out of the bed and tiptoed back across the hall.
I’m such a bitch. How many times am I going to tease him?

His breathing was even as she approached. She stared down at him in slumber. He lay on his stomach, his arms wrapped around his pillow, his head facing her direction, his broad tanned shoulders exposed to her perusal. The sheet had slipped so low she could see the top of his shorts.

Minutes passed while she itched to run her fingers over his skin.

Suddenly, he opened his eyes and smiled at her. “I sensed you.”

She chuckled. “Not very quickly.”

“How long have you been staring at me?” he teased as he rose onto his side.

“A while.” She flushed. “Sorry I ran.”