“Go to her,” Alex communicated. “It kills me, but it’s only fair. I’ve definitely had more of her than you have. Bond with her a bit so she’ll be more comfortable with this situation. I’m going to take some of this inside and grab a bottle of wine. I’ll give you a few minutes.” Alex got up and shuffled toward the door, hands full of empty plates. “God, give me strength and don’t let me regret this decision.”
The last part wasn’t directed at Ryan. He knew that. But still it touched him.
Ryan sauntered toward Lindsey’s back, consciously making a scuffing noise with his shoes so she’d not be surprised by his arrival behind her.
Cautiously he reached a hand and brushed it over her shoulder before setting it against the exposed skin left bared by the sleeveless tank top she wore.
“It’s too weird, Ryan.” She leaned her chin against his hand and even rubbed against him, her actions not in accord with her words. “I don’t think I can do this … this thing you say is our fate.”
“I wouldn’t call it fate, so much as destiny,” he murmured close to her ear. It was the first time he’d been this close and he wanted more, wanted all of her. How he’d held himself in reserve for as long as he had, he had no idea, but now that he was closer, really able to inhale her essence, he didn’t think he could go back. His wolf called for him to take her. He needed her with his every molecule.
Her hair tickled his nose and he inhaled her scent. It ravished him, almost sent him staggering backward. Her essence called to him. Her body did that of its own accord. She was already so far gone, he couldn’t fathom how she held herself at bay as she did.
Once lupines met their mates, they didn’t usually go so long without claiming them. Of course normally the parties were both wolves. When a human was involved, it took a bit of wooing, but neither party could hold off for days. Unusual circumstances…
The last thing he wanted was to push her and risk aggravating her any more than necessary.
But, he couldn’t resist her hair. The long glorious locks were so soft against his cheek, and he inhaled the smell of her floral shampoo. Thoughts of mixing his own scent with hers, marking her, claiming her body, and making sure she never again smelled of just flowers, overwhelmed him. He felt a tremble as it shook his frame and hoped she didn’t notice his clumsy school-boy act.
Partially because he couldn’t resist, and partially because she seemed looser than she had since he met her, he allowed himself to nuzzle her neck with tiny little kisses, almost nonexistent. Her head tilted slightly to the other side to afford him better access, and he repressed a moan with every ounce of strength he could muster. Afraid any noise at all would break the spell.
When her body listed slightly back toward his chest, Ryan reached up with both hands and grasped her shoulders, pulling her in closer, leaning her against him.
He kissed his way up her neck, across her jaw, and finally reached her lips.
She parted for him, enough to welcome the kiss he so desperately needed from her.
She tasted of the combination of sweet fruit juices he’d fed her. And he wanted to feast on her mouth, suck those juices from her tongue.
He held his body rigid while he plundered her mouth, trying desperately to keep himself in check as a little piece of heaven reached down from the skies and graced him with her presence.
*
Lindsey couldn’t stop herself. This is wrong. She knew in her head she couldn’t do this, let this man seduce her while she was also in total lust with another man who’d just stepped inside. And she definitely insisted to herself that’s what this was, lust. It couldn’t be anything more. Anything else was ludicrous.
But right now Ryan was occupying her heart. And her heart was overruling her head. His grip was firm on her shoulders. Her body leaned into his. She couldn’t stop it. She needed more. Needed to taste more of him. If he would just turn her around so this kiss could go deeper.
She couldn’t be so bold as to take matters into her own hands. But she wanted him to. If for no other reason than to deepen the awkward kiss coming from over her shoulder.
The nibbling and licking and sucking was driving her crazy.
Voices in her head told her to stop. Pull away. This is wrong. An abomination her grandmother would have said. If she were still attending her childhood church, she’d surely be excommunicated.
She shook the thought away, stuffed it to the back of her brain, and returned to the moment. Her subconscious needed to shut up and leave her alone. Even her therapist would say so.
The large, rough hands on her shoulders moved painstakingly slowly down her arms until Ryan entwined his fingers with hers and wrapped both sets of arms across her middle, just under her breasts.