The Alpha's Temporary Mate(28)

"Or trust your instinct. Aren't you wolves supposed to be good at that?"

"In theory."

"Surely in all that time you've met someone that interests you. Beyond the bedroom, I mean."

"I know what you mean."

Chloe toyed with her glass before leaning forward. "You found me because  your pack was asking you for something they needed. Something you  didn't want to give. Maybe you picked the wrong path. If they needed a  mated alpha so badly in order to stabilize the pack, maybe you need it,  too. Ever think of that?"

"Every day," he replied, raising her hand with the glass toward her lips. Dutifully, she downed the drink.

"Which duty do I follow? The one to my pack that would see me mated to  the next available female wolf, whether I loved her or not, or to my  destined mate who may or may not show up for another couple hundred  years."

"Or tomorrow," she said. "That's what we tell our members. Your mate may  be centuries away or she may be right next to you. You never know until  you try."

He slid closer to her along the couch. "Right next to me, hmm?"

Chloe swallowed and turned away. "You know what I meant."

"I do." His fingers threaded through her hair, caressing the curling tresses.

She glanced back at him. "I'm not interested in being the next Candy."

"I'm not looking for her replacement."

"Then what are you looking for?" The words were a whispered breath.

"I think," he murmured. "I'm looking for you."

"For how long?"

"I don't know," he said. "Does it matter right now?"

No, her body cried. She wanted to leap and see where the current took  her. Kieran was being more honest with her than he had ever been before.  Surely that counted for something.

So what if she regretted her decisions, when whiskey was the deciding factor?

"Now that you've found me," she said, shifting closer, "what do you want to do to me?"

A golden ring appeared around his irises. Awareness threaded through  her. She was playing a dangerous game, one she would greatly regret in  the morning. Whiskey courage or no, she wanted what she'd been fighting  against since he first kissed her.

Chloe cast a leg across Kieran's lap, moving to sit facing him.

"Yes," he purred. "I want you like that."

"Just this?" She ran her hands slowly down his chest. "Liar."

The hard planes of his muscles tensed under her fingertips as his hands  moved to cup her hips. Heat radiated from his skin, making her want to  rip away the fabric and enjoy the body that lay beneath.

Sober, she might have resisted the desire, but right now she couldn't  quite remember why she hadn't allowed herself to make the most of  Kieran's presence in her life.

Her fingers flew to the buttons of his shirt. Within seconds they were  free from their bindings, the material gaping around his golden chest.

"Better," she purred, pressing her palms to his skin.

He hissed a breath. Had he been waiting for this skin-to-skin contact as  much as she had? If so, she could do better than her hands.

Bending, she pressed her lips to his chest. Her tongue lapped out to taste him.

"This is a bad idea," he said as his fingers delved into her hair.

"Terrible," she agreed, moving to flick her tongue over one nipple.

Power flooded her when his muscles contracted in pleasure. Usually she  was uncertain with a new lover. She wanted to know what they preferred,  needed to make sure she colored within the lines. But with Kieran, she  did what she wanted. She touched where she craved, and he let her. This  strong alpha, who was in charge every moment of his life, sat back and  allowed her to play as she would.

Her fingers drifted along the waistband of his slacks. With a teasingly  light touch she trailed along his abdominal muscles, her hands moving  lower and lower. One hand dipped to cup the rock-hard erection pressing  against his pants.

"Clothes are such a hassle," she whispered against his throat, licking over his thundering pulse.                       
       
           



       

"Agreed," he said, his voice hitching when she stroked him.

Chloe lifted her head to see his eyes. Gone was the thin ring around his  irises. In its place was the pure, golden gaze of a wolf on the edge.

"Hello there," she said to the animal staring from Kieran's eyes.

"I told you both of us liked you," he said, leaning forward to capture her mouth.

She groaned as she parted her lips for him. He tasted of whiskey and sex  as he took charge, plundering the depths of her mouth. She should have  known an alpha of his power could only be so good for so long. It wasn't  in his nature to relinquish control to another.

But as he rolled her to the floor, rising over her, she found she had  very little problem with letting him dominate her. Not with his heady  kisses clouding her mind with pleasure.

He pressed one leg between hers, fitting his body over hers. She clawed  at the hanging shirt, pulling it from his body without breaking away  from his mouth.

Her hands ran over the naked skin of his back. He was as perfect as she'd expected. Hot, hard, and hers, at least for now.

No wonder his past lovers had been willing to live off the scraps of  affection he tossed their way. A woman would go to great lengths to keep  a man like this in her bed.

Don't think about them, her inner voice whispered. They aren't here right now.

Not wanting to wait, her fingers rose to the buttons of her own shirt.  Chloe was pretty sure she lost a few of them in her haste to strip, but  didn't care.

Kieran helped her pull the blue material from her body before pushing  her down with one hand. He rose over her, staring down with glowing  eyes.

"Beautiful," he said, his voice gruff.

"I get better," she replied, pulling down the straps of her bra. She  wasn't sure where her inner temptress had been hiding all these years,  but she was glad the vixen had finally made an appearance. Keeping her  gaze on him, she unhooked the bra and let it fall free. Twining her arms  over her head she arched her back, her breasts on full display.

"Are you sure you don't have some siren blood in your background?"

She laughed, relaxing under him. "Who knows?"

Kieran cupped her breasts, running his thumbs over her sensitive  nipples. Need spiraled through her. She'd known how good it would be in  his arms and still fought against their attraction. Such a foolish  decision.

When he replaced his hands with his mouth she threw back her head,  enjoying the sensations of his tongue lapping over her hardened nipple.  More, she wanted more. Her remaining clothes constricted her. She wanted  them gone, wanted his naked body moving over her, in her. Her patience  was coming to an end.

"Let's move this to the bedroom," she said.

Kieran stared down at her with glowing golden eyes. "Hell, yes."

She grinned, trying to roll up.

"Dammit," he muttered. "Wait, witchling. We can't."

She snorted, sure he was kidding. "Then we can stay right here." Her hands slid down his chest.

A happy fog filled her mind, getting rid of the nagging voice whispering  that this was a mistake. She didn't care. Right now pleasure pulsed  through her body, and she wanted to return the favor.

Her hand moved lower to cup his cock once more.

"Christ," he swore.

"You've had centuries to perfect your seduction," she whispered in his  ear. "But there's something to be said for raw enthusiasm."

"Don't I know it." A growl rumbled from his chest but she didn't mind in  the least. Other women might find looking up into the eyes of a wolf  unnerving, but she liked his inner animal just as much as she liked the  man.

"I'm right here," she purred against his ear. "Asking you to take me." Her fingers stroked him as she spoke.

"You are making it damn hard to do the right thing."

"Our opinions of ‘right' differ."

He grabbed her hands and pulled them up, trapping them against her chest so she couldn't touch him. "You're drunk."

"So are you."

A grin flashed across his face. "Maybe. However, I'm sober enough to know you'll hate me in the morning if this continues."

"I don't care about what happens in the morning."

"But I do, sweetheart." His forehead dropped against hers. "I'm not taking advantage of this situation."

She let out a growl of her own. Using a touch of magic, she reversed  their position until he lay beneath her. Chloe pressed her hands against  his chest as she sat astride him. "I'm not some innocent miss unsure of  what she's getting herself into. I know exactly what I'm asking of  you."