Wolf Next Door (11 page)

“If at first you don’t succeed…”

Narrowing his gaze, he glared at her. “Try, try again?”

The wicked curve of her lips beckoned to him, and he chuckled. Who knew passion and humor could go hand-in-hand?

“I would try with you till the end of time,” she promised and his soul warmed.

“I love you.”

A tender blush suffused her skin. “I know.”

Cupping her sex, he rolled his thumb over her clit. Her gasp played like music to his ears. “Have I mentioned to you that cookies are my favorite treat?”

A low moan, and she tugged his hair in warning. “You may have mentioned it.” The words came out between gritted teeth.

“I’ve changed my mind,” he said. After easing her fingers from his hair, he leaned down to lick her from her entrance to her clit, the sweet scent of her arousal a drug to his system. Nibbling the labia, he licked and tasted her as she began to squirm. Every stroke of his tongue elicited another reaction. Delighted, he locked his lips around her clit and sucked. On the third pull, she came with a howl and her fingers bit into the sheets.

Anticipating the ferocity of her reaction, he braced her thighs to keep them from closing on his head. Only when her quivers began to abate did he release her. He eased above her sprawled body and marveled at the wonder of her. Lining his cock up to her entrance, he braced his arms and waited for her to come around. He wanted to see her eyes as he pushed into her. Wanted to savor her reaction to feeling her envelop his length.

Sweat slid down his arms. His balls ached from the punishment of patience, but when those golden wolf eyes met his, he rejoiced. Easing into her was an exercise in the best kind of agony. Hot, wet, and tight, her sex clamped down around him as he thrust.

Claire arched her hips and brought those sweet legs around him. The strength in them gripped him and increased his access. “Claim me.” The wild demand shattered him, and he thrust without finesse or patience. Ecstasy tightened his balls, and he fisted the covers. She twined her arms around his neck and dragged him down for a kiss as they found their rhythm. Every drive of his body into hers increased the friction, and he couldn’t see past the need throbbing through him.

Her breathing grew more ragged, matching his harsh pants, and he swore he could feel her heart beating in perfect rhythm with his. Dragging his mouth from hers, he struck, biting down on the juncture between her neck and shoulder. Bliss radiated through him, then her teeth sank into his shoulder and his world erupted as he came.

His spine went molten, and the wave of heat crashed out of him. Everything he was became something more. The world narrowed to the beautiful wolf in his arms, and he released her throat to throw his head back and howl. Collapsing against her, he buried his face to her throat and began to lave his mark on her skin.

Gradually, he became aware of her hands stroking his back and her low murmuring. It was a growl and not, so he forced his head up to make sure she was all right.

The smile on her face lightened his heart, and he grinned. “Like that, did you?”

“Oh yeah,” she whispered. “Better late than never.”

God help him, he loved her—every tenacious, stubborn inch. He laughed and they both groaned as she tightened around him again.

T
hey spent
a week in bed together. Thank God for pack mates—food arrived on the second day in the form of care packages left on the porch. Fresh cookies from Vivian. A lasagna from Alexis. Breads and coffee from Sexton’s Grocery and more. They ate, drank, played, and made love. Ty refused to let her get out of bed for anything, wanting to wait on her hand and foot.

She let him get away with it for two days because his charming grin and twinkling eyes seduced her. On the third day, she made him let her return the favor. Getting to know her mate proved to be a fascinating exercise. Ty had never gone to college, but he’d done trade school work. He dreamed of an engineering degree, but was satisfied with helping his dad and rebuilding cars.

Still, he had plans and ideas. She encouraged them. He told her about losing A.J. and the cost of it to him and Linc. All through the dark talk, she’d held him and hated herself for not being there for him the first time. Nothing escaped Ty, though, and he refused to let her take all the blame. Though they both made mistakes, they also found each other. That was all that mattered.

One dark night, she told him about Justin and, though he growled through it all, he insisted she tell him everything she was comfortable with sharing. She told him about the trip to Arizona, about meeting Cassius Braun, and how Justin began her training as a Hunter. Though he’d expressed an interest in sleeping with her, she’d never allowed it.

Hunters, in Cassius’ pack, she’d explained, were more than just soldiers. Rank, earned through combat, gave the right to Alpha challenge, and Justin had used his Hunter trainees to weed out his own competition. It wasn’t until the near coup that she’d realized his plan. Before he could challenge Cassius, she’d challenged Justin.

Even recounting the battle she’d ultimately won, she started shaking. From the beginning of the match until the moment she’d torn out his throat, she’d expected to die. Shock, not elation, struck her when she won.

After she told him the story, they’d shifted and ran. Ty seemed to sense her need to move. Resting in a field, they’d shifted, made love then alternated between drowsing in each other’s arms and staring at the stars. Stroking her hair, he said. “There’s one thing I don’t get. Why did Cassius make you leave if you stopped Justin’s coup?”

“Because I was second only to the alpha.” He went so still under her at those words. Rising on an elbow, she met his startled gaze. “I meant it when I said rank was determined through combat. I wouldn’t bow to Cassius, though. I wouldn’t lower my eyes, but I’d won my place at his right hand which also made me the target for every other challenger who wanted to achieve rank.”

Even under the moonlight, Ty went pale as understanding crystalized in his gaze. “Cassius told you not to bow to him publically, didn’t he?”

“He couldn’t justify stripping me of the rank because I’d won it. And there was no way out of it unless someone killed me. I wanted to come home.” She bit her lip and stretched against him. “After I won, Cassius and I had a really long talk. I admitted I wanted to return to Willow Bend, that I had always wanted to come home. He manufactured a reason to make me leave, then he kicked my ass out and called Mason after I did, to tell him.”

Ty’s eyes narrowed. “That’s really damn sneaky, you know.”

“I know.” She winced. “You’re not mad are you? I know I lied a little, but I really didn’t bow my head and I really didn’t lower my eyes. I really didn’t want Cassius as my alpha, so it wasn’t entirely a lie.”

Flipping her onto her back, Ty rose over her. “I’m so proud of you, I could bust. You fought your way home to me, literally. I don’t deserve you.”

“Too bad.” She nipped his chin. “You’re stuck with me forever.”

“Thank God.”

One full week after they mated, a note arrived on the porch from A.J. Ty needed to see his parents. Claire dreaded the meeting. Ranae had been sent away, she’d fought with Linc, and now she and Ty were mated. What must Mrs. Buckley think? What about Mr. Buckley? Tyler assured her they would accept her, but she still thought he should go see them alone.

He wouldn’t hear it. “You’re my mate, my other half. They will love you because I love you—they won’t blame you. Ranae did what she did to herself. I hate that it came to that, but we won’t abandon her. I’m sure A.J. already has a plan.”

“What about Linc?”

“Eh, I’ll kick his ass.” Ty grinned. “Then he can kick mine. We’ll be fine.”

He seemed so certain, and it was so important to him, so she went. They walked across the field separating their houses and leapt the wall together. It was almost like being kids again, only better. Linc was waiting for them on the porch and Ty faced off with his brother from a step ahead of her.

“Before you threaten me,” Linc said. “I’d appreciate a chance to apologize to your mate.”

Surprise flitted through her.
The hell he would…
“You can’t apologize for defending Ty. I won’t allow it.” Both brothers stared at her, their matching expressions almost comical. “If you want to apologize to Ty, that’s fine. You should never touch another’s mate or pick a fight with them and that’s for you boys to decide. But as for me, I don’t want your apology. You were protecting Ty. He’s mine to protect now, but I’ll share that right with you. Deal?”

Locking gazes with Linc, she held her ground. He was as dominant as his brother, but then again, so was she. She’d give her respects to Mason, and she’d give her surrender to Ty. Linc could suck it if he thought she’d give it to him, too. Family only went so far.

With a slow nod he began to grin. “Okay, I’m putting in my order for the meek and mild woman. You are a spitfire.” Then with a wider grin, he clapped Ty on the shoulder. “She is all yours.”

Ty laughed and pulled her close. “Damn straight she is.”

“Boys!” Mrs. Buckley yelled from inside the house. “Dinner is in here and I want to spend time with my new daughter-in-law. Move it!”

“Yes ma’am!” They chorused.

It was all going to be okay. A flutter passed through her as they followed Linc into the house. A.J. and Vivian were waiting alongside their parents and there was more back thumping and hugs to go around. She was home.

She had Ty.

Across the room, in thick conversation with his brothers, Ty paused to meet her gaze. She could feel the love pulsing from his heart to hers. Raising her chin, she showed him her throat and his smile grew wider. He mimicked her action, and her heart soared.

The wolf next door had been her tormenter, protector, friend, foe, and greatest ally.

He was her perfect mate.

B
rett Dalton is
the Alpha of Hudson River and since one of his wolves went mad and murdered several members of his pack beneath his nose, he’s isolated himself from his pack mates. The once, easygoing Alpha has become taciturn, remote and unforgiving. His pack worries for him, but they too have suffered a devastating blow. When several members leave to join Three Rivers, the pack faces the threat of dissolution until Brett’s best friend and Lone Wolf, Luc Danes returns to Hudson River accompanied by a beautiful young human—or is she? Something about the woman consumes Brett. Has Luc come home to help or to take the pack from Brett?

C
olby Jenson wrapped
up 300 hours of community service working at the hospital in Maine when an injured Luc Danes rolled through the door. The impossible patient drove the nurses crazy, but when Danes offered her a thousand dollars no strings attached to drive him to New York, she agreed. The last thing she expected was to arrive in the small Westchester County town and to meet the craziest collection of residents—especially the devastatingly sexy Brett Dalton. He turns her inside out, but the man’s vicious temper and cold manner confuses the hell out of her. Part of her wants to hit the road, the rest wants to make him smile and Luc keeps making excuses for her to stay.

T
hen she sees the wolves
…and is exposed to a world she can barely imagine. When Luc offers to keep her with him, Brett suddenly rouses at the challenge. Now she will find herself torn between two men—one she cares about and one she could love.

• @HVLong
  
• HeatherLongAuthor