Instead he took her to the plush carpet and captured her lips with desperate passion. “I want you,” he breathed into her mouth as he nibbled on that luscious lower lip. “I want you every way I can have you, every moment I can have you.”
The need to have her, to touch her and possess her, burned through him. He wanted his touch to erase the thought of her past with anyone else from her head. He wanted to give her a thousand orgasms, bring her so much pleasure that all her waking hours were filled with desire for him. For his touch.
Her eyes widened in surprise at the intensity of his response but she gave in, lids sliding halfway shut as his hands caressed her.
Bending down, he captured a nipple between sharp white teeth, through her blouse and her bra. It wasn’t enough. Hissing in pleasure, she arched into his mouth, wanting more. Hands yanked his shirt up, her nails raking over his skin, digging into the meat of his muscle. The sharp sensation of it drove him, tested his control. Breaking contact momentarily, he tore his shirt up and over his head, summarily removing hers, as well. She lay beneath him, desire-tousled, pleasure-drunk. Her breath came in short pants and he reached down, unsnapping the front closure on her bra. Her breasts came free and he stilled for a moment, taking in their beauty. High, perky and mouthwatering, her nipples large and hard at his perusal.
“So pretty. Your nipples are so damn pretty. They make my mouth water. I want to bite them and lick them and tug on them all day.” To underline that, both hands reached out to her nipples, fingers rolling and tugging until she began to whimper and writhe beneath his touch.
His need caught hers, engulfing her. Drowned her and set her on fire all at once. She wanted him so much it robbed her of breath. Her skin burned where he touched her, tingled in the wake of his glance. Never, not with any other man, had she felt such a level of fiery need to be with someone. To feel desired and possessed and the center of his attentions.
Desperate for more contact, she arched her hips, rolling them to grind her denim-clad pussy against his cock. The seam there pressed against her swollen clit and she moaned softly.
“Jesus, Kari. The way you are, damn it, you’re so fucking sexy.”
Despite the intensity of the encounter, joy bubbled up and out of her mouth as a laugh. Her hands frantically struggled to get his pants unfastened and he pushed her away with a groan and pulled them off himself. The moment he moved back into her reach, she grabbed him with both hands as he spilled out of his underwear, and he yelped. She let go, afraid she’d hurt him.
“No, god, no. Don’t stop,” he panted, putting her hands back around his cock.
He practically ripped her jeans from her, the panties followed. Pausing, he looked down at her. Desire deepened the color of his eyes and she was caught up in them. His lips were wet from licking her nipples, swollen from kissing her. His gaze went back to her breasts and he leaned over, touching them, kneading them. “I want to fuck these,” he said in a deep rumble.
She opened and closed her mouth a few times but there weren’t words. The power of his want of her rendered her speechless. Nonetheless, her body responded. Her pussy gushed cream and her nipples hardened to the point of pain. It was all she could do to nod slowly.
Without taking his eyes from hers, he took her hands and put them where his were. She found herself holding her breasts together, creating a tight channel of flesh for him. For his cock.
A cock she was unable to resist as he slid in between her breasts with a hiss of pleasure. Leaning down, she swirled her tongue around his glistening cockhead each time it came toward her. That sweet, tangy taste of him tortured her senses over and over.
“Sweet heaven,” he stuttered, stroking himself through the tight passage. What a sight she made there. Spread out beneath him, wanton and sexy. Her gaze met his as she licked over the head of his cock, looking into him with such depth of feeling that he felt he was falling into her. The sight of her pink tongue lapping at him each time he thrust, lips swollen, small hands holding those luscious breasts together as he fucked them, brought a shiver through his system as he felt his climax approach, quicksilver up his spine.
Growling, he pulled back and turned her over. “That’s it, little wolf. Ass up, head down.”
He knew she was soaking wet, he could smell her pussy, hot and ready to be fucked. Without preamble, he spread her thighs and plunged deep and hard into her cunt. Crying out, she arched back to meet his thrusts.
He kneaded the globes of her pretty little ass, keeping her wide open to his strokes. Looking down, he watched his cock disappear into her sweet pussy and come back out, slick with her juices. He loved the way it looked as her body clutched his each time he pulled nearly all the way out. Loved the depth of color of her labia as her pretty cunt flushed for him.
And her ass. Her ass was so pretty. The little bit of anal play he’d given her the few nights before had only sparked his desire for more. He stroked a finger over her rosette, and she stiffened and then relaxed with a shaky sigh.
“You’re so pretty. You have no idea how much it turns me on that you trust me,” he crooned and she relaxed a bit, waiting.
Sliding his fingers through her pussy to gather her lube, he stroked a thumb over her ass and then pushed into her slowly. She tensed up and he pet her with his free hand, making soothing sounds. Reaching around, he flicked a fingertip over her clit and she groaned, relaxing enough for his thumb to slip into her more easily. The muscles in her pussy clenched and his balls drew closer to his body.
“Hmm, you like that, don’t you? One of these days, very soon you know, I’m going to put my cock here. Fuck this pretty little ass while you beg me for more.”
She moaned softly in response.
Sweat rolled off his body as he slammed into her, fingering her ass as he went. The fingers of his other hand stroked in time over her clit. She wriggled back against him with soft mewls of pleasure and entreaties for more.
When he pinched her perineum between the thumb inside of her and his index finger he knew it would push her over. And he was right. Her spine curved and a long, soft moan broke from her as she came.
Her pussy clenched and fluttered, gripping his cock in a tight wall of hot, wet flesh. How in the hell could any mortal man withstand the sight of her there, arched, flushed and writhing with pleasure with his cock buried deep inside her? It was certainly a task beyond his control. A bone-deep shudder broke up his spine as he orgasmed, feeling as if his entire body was shooting through the end of his cock.
“Oh for... Your cunt is so fucking hot.”
The totality of being taken in such a feral way settled into her skin. By this man who had such a raw, deep abiding need for her—it would have terrified her from anyone else. But from Andreas, it made her feel more alive. Made the scent of the pine trees outside more crisp, brought more resonance to the sound of the rain against the windowpanes. The weight of him, his hips curved around hers, brought a deep satisfaction to her soul.
It was so much and yet just enough. Right up to the brim of sensory overload. Edgy, dark, thrilling. Sex with Andreas could be soft and sweet but more often sharp and exciting. His need sliced through her. The tang of it rode the edge of pleasure-pain that awakened something deep within her. A need to be desired with that nearly uncontrollable force. The yearning for fingers digging into the flesh of her hips, of teeth grasping the tendons in her neck to hold her still. She didn’t have words or explanation for this dark lure of his immense sexuality but she loved it nonetheless.
With a long groan, her legs gave out and she collapsed to the carpet. He slipped out and followed, pulling her into his body, his face in her hair.
They both lay curled into each other as they caught their breath. Kari turned to face him, kissing his forehead. “Wow. That was...wow. Andreas, what brought that on?”
“You did. You always do. Just being with you, hearing you talk about sex with anyone else. I had to have you. Each time is better than the last, little wolf. Even now I
want you again.”
No one had ever known her body so well. Had played her senses, emotions and responses with such expertise and passion. The raw need in him when he touched her was addictive and overwhelming but those moments on the floor, the carpet biting into first her back and then her knees, had been the most powerful sexual experience she’d ever had. She craved him like nothing she’d experienced before.
“Well, even now I want you to have me again, but I need to be at Instaware in—” she looked at her watch “—fifteen minutes. We need to get going.”
He stood and helped her up. They both groaned at their sore muscles and then laughed. She freshened up quickly and they left. Andreas waited in her office, needing to make some business calls anyway.
* * *
The meeting with her boss was easier than she’d thought it would be. He was sad to see her go but there was an easy enough replacement in the temp who had been handling her work when she was out. Kari had been cheered by his request to call him when she got her own business up and running.
Free of any other responsibilities, they headed to Seattle to go shopping. When they walked into Tiffany’s he stole a look down at her and smiled at the stunned look on her face as she took in all the rings.
He sat in front of the case she peered into. “Go for it. Whatever you want, it’s yours.”
She would have jumped up and down squealing had she not been inside the home of the blue box. Instead she gave him a quick grin, replaced by a more mature smile, and perused the array of rings beneath the glass. A salesperson came over to help.
Kari knew what she wanted—a pear-shaped diamond with twin sapphires on either side. She’d seen it in the window as she’d shopped at Pacific Place a few months back. The band was platinum, nice and sturdy. Simple, not a whole lot of flash, but the diamond was a carat and the sapphires were a quarter-carat each. Elegant without being gaudy. She pointed to it and the woman pulled it out of the case and set it on a velvet pad. Kari tried it on. It fit perfectly.
Andreas approved, the ring suited her well. “Is there a ring that could serve as a companion to this one?” The salesclerk brought out a men’s band with a pavé diamond, a sapphire on each side. All of the stones were set within the band and were much smaller than a woman’s setting, but he preferred that anyway.
“Do you like it?” he asked Kari.
She looked up at him, eyes shining, cheeks flushed. “Yes. It’s perfect.” Sliding the ring off when the clerk brought out the box, Kari saw the price tag and blanched. “Oh never mind! Let’s look at other rings.”
He put his hand on her arm. “Why? I can see how much you love that ring. You’ve looked at it before, haven’t you?”
“Yes, I saw it in the window a while back. But, Andreas, that ring costs more than an economy car.”
“Kari, marriage is a once-in-a-lifetime thing. This ring, these rings—” he pointed to the band he’d chosen to complement hers “—are not a hardship. Believe me. I’m going to buy this ring for you. You want it. I want it for you. End of story.”
She wore the ring out of the store. His had to be sized and would be ready in a few days. He smiled when he noticed she kept looking at her own, watching the light play on the diamond. He’d have to thank his mother for the suggestion to let Kari choose her own ring.
As they were walking back to the garage where the truck was parked, she looked up at him. “So have Laurent and Phillip been with us all along?”
“What? How did you know?”
“I’m a werewolf, duh. I could smell Phillip. And then I saw Laurent when we came out of the restaurant. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t want to upset you.”
“I’m not upset that they’re here. I understand and I agree that it’s necessary. What I’m upset about is you not just telling me up-front. Oh my god, look at those boots...” She wandered off in midsentence and he stifled a smile. A strong, intelligent woman but still girly underneath. Intoxicating.
“Let them be my penance for not telling you about Laurent and Phillip,” he said indulgently. He wanted to shower her with presents to drown out a childhood that had had her picking locks for food.
“Twist my arm,” she said dreamily and went into the shop, coming out with not just a pair of boots but a pair of strappy stilettos that’d been Andreas’s idea.
By the time they’d gotten back to the car, he was weighted down with bags and packages. “It’s a good thing we brought the big truck,” he joked as they got back onto the freeway going east. Her cell phone rang then. It was Jack.
“Hey there. How are you?”
“I called you at home a few times. What’s with the new number you left?”
Taking a deep breath, knowing her brother was going to freak out, she blurted out, “Jack, I’ve met someone. We’re married.” Well, not according to human law but Andreas had promised to have some sort of ceremony to do that soon.
“You got married? How? Why didn’t you tell me? Who is this guy?”
“Oh, it’s such a long story. I met him when I got out of the hospital but it’s like I’ve known him forever. The new number is for his house. Or rather, our house. It’s at Star Lake, on the water. His name is Andreas Phinney. He’s a businessman. Comes from a large family. You’ll like him.”
“You married a guy you haven’t known for a week yet?” he yelled and she held the phone away from her ear. “Are you insane?”
She sighed. “I know it sounds completely crazy but all I can tell you is that it isn’t. It’s right. Come out to visit. Meet him yourself. You know I’m not a flake. I have good judgment.”
“Kari, you can’t be serious. This guy could be an ax murderer. He could be anyone. I’m gonna check into his background.”
“Jack Warner, you will do no such thing! Don’t you dare treat him like a criminal and investigate him!”
Andreas put his hand up to interrupt. “Kari, he wants to protect you. I’m sure it sounds very sudden to him. Let him investigate. It’ll make him feel better.”
“Did you hear that?” she asked Jack. “He says to go ahead.”
“Make no mistake, Kari, I will. Listen, are you okay? I mean, is there any trouble?”
“I’m better than okay, Jack. I’m in love. He’s a good man. Come out. I’ll send you a ticket—”
Andreas interrupted again. “Kari, we have a jet that can pick him up at Logan and bring him out here if he’d like.”
“He has a jet?” Jack asked, incredulous.
“Apparently,” she replied.
“Okay, I’m gonna check this dude out. When I do, I’m coming out there to meet him. No one’s gonna hurt my baby sister.”
She laughed. “I love you, Jack. I’ll see you soon. You’ll meet Andreas and his family and you’ll fall in love with them too.”
“I’ll be calling you tomorrow. I don’t like how fast this is moving. You had a head wound! This guy could be preying on you.”
She burst out laughing. “You think he’s taking advantage of me because of my head wound? Or my huge amounts of money? Oh perhaps my access to the halls of Congress!”
Andreas looked at her askance. “Would you like me to speak with him? Set his mind at ease?”
She shook her head. “He won’t feel better until he’s done whatever he thinks needs doing to be sure you’re on the level.”
“Look, smart-ass, joke all you want but this guy could be the big bad wolf.”
Kari laughed so hard she nearly choked. “Oh, Jack. Not the big bad wolf. He’s not bad at all.”
“Okay, baby sister, I’ll be calling you. Take care of yourself. Call nine-one-one if anything goes bad. Should I call the police station in Star Lake to give them a heads-up?”
“No, Jack, don’t interfere. Trust me, if he did anything bad, I’d take care of it. I’m not a doormat.”
“Of course you aren’t. I’m sorry. I hope this is all what you think it is. I want you to be happy. I just don’t want some loser
taking advantage.”
“A loser with a jet.” She snickered.
“Yeah, okay, so he’s probably—and I say ‘probably’ because who knows if that’s true?—not a loser where it comes to money.”
“Yeah. So anyway. Check and call me back. I want you to come out soon. Bring Alyssa and her son. There’s plenty of room here. A lake to play in, woods to explore.”
Andreas nodded at that, he wanted very much for Jack to come and visit to make Kari happy.
“We’ll see. I’ll talk to you soon. I love you.”
“Me too, monkeybutt.” She disconnected.
“So I’m the big bad wolf?” He leered at her.
“I corrected him. I said you weren’t bad.”
Back home, Gregory and Sean helped unload all of the goodies from the truck and put them away.
She was talking with Drew about having him design some clothing for her when Andreas bellowed at her from inside.
“Jeez! What?” she asked, walking into the house.
Andreas sat in the living room with his mother on one of the couches near the fireplace, wearing a cocky smile.
Jade shook her head at her son and came to Kari. “I told him to use his manners and go and get you. Lazybones. However, he tells me that he bought you a ring. Let’s see it!”
Kari flashed her hand, being sure to catch the light.
“Oh it’s gorgeous and very you!” Jade said and Anna hurried over to look, as well. Perri, attracted by the excited sounds, came in.
“What?”
“Come and see Kari’s ring,” Anna said. Perri joined them as everyone oohed and aahed.
“It’s beautiful. I love it!” Perri looked at Andreas. “Nice job. You’re aware that you have to do the human ceremony too, right? And not just for Kari’s sake, ’cause every girl needs a wedding, but to deal in the human world as her husband too. You can’t just tell them you’re mated, they won’t accept that. You have no idea how lucky you were that Elaine and Sean were there at the hospital. Technically, you had no right to see her or make medical decisions for her because you weren’t legally her spouse.”