He could practically taste her fragile scent, a musky mix of arousal and Obsession, and his fingertips throbbed with the sense of her skin and the supple strength of her muscles.
He’d been hard ever since he’d seen her in action at the mugging, and it had only worsened when she’d pressed against him in the alley offering help. He’d not been nearly so injured as he’d led her to believe, and despite his better judgment, he’d allowed her to see him home. Strong women had always been a weakness for him.
He should have known it wouldn’t be enough. It was never enough to only touch--it was pure torture that had him salivating to lick her all over.
He wanted to ram into her, spew his cum across her naked body and mark her with his scent so that no other man would dare touch her. Could she handle being fucked by a Lycan? He’d like to think so, but he couldn’t chance it. His control was too shaky around her, and he could hurt her irreparably if he tried. What a damn fool he was.
His possessiveness toward her, the need to mark, appalled him, but not enough to deny his feelings. It had taken every ounce of his control to release her and allow her to go. He knew she wanted him. That in itself would be his downfall. Never in his life had a human woman blind-sided him this way. He could not even remember a time when his emotions ran to the coolness of a human male, so long ago had it been since he’d turned wolfen.
Promises to stay away from humans seemed like so much ash in his mouth. Despite her hard ass attitude, he sensed her vulnerability and knew he’d frightened her when his wolf flashed in his eyes. He doubted she realized what she’d beheld, for he knew she hadn’t believed him about the vampires.
All the more reason to stay away from her. Humans could not comprehend that their presence on the top of the food chain was precarious at best, held aloft only by their numbers. And that scale could tip at any time.
Eventually the cold water washed away the blood and cooled his head--both of them.
Navarre damned the creature that had made him this monster. For he could never have what he most wanted and never realized could be snatched away ... the chance to love and be loved. There would be no mate for him, human or Lycan.
Shawnda and Mina didn’t come back that night, but they were considerate enough to call and say they were spending the next few days up at Lake Ponchatrain with some hot guys they barely knew and had plans to behave as immorally as possible. Kaeli didn’t like it, but it wasn’t like she could stop them. They were big girls, and if anything, Shawnda was meaner and tougher than she was.
Kaeli spent the morning lounging in bed, fingering his shirt--which she still wore--and enjoying the smell of him on her skin. It was almost like he’d rubbed on her and left his mark, even though he technically hadn’t loaned her the shirt.
Despite all her inner warnings, she wanted to see him again. She couldn’t let it rest. It was like an itch in the middle of her back that she couldn’t quite reach, and it was driving her crazy not knowing what it’d be like to fuck him.
She could admit it. He’d filled her dreams last night, and she’d woken up wet with arousal. It was a natural, earthy response to a man she was attracted to--no matter how off-balance he was.
Kaeli ordered room service and flipped through the channels on TV, trying to take her mind off him. Finally she flipped to a music channel, but a metal band from the 80s was on, and all those tight leather pants brought her immediately back to Navarre. She turned off the TV, frustrated.
She needed to return his shirt anyway. And while she was there ... she’d just see what would happen. She didn’t think it would take too much effort on her part to drive him over the edge. Afterwards, she could analyze her disgraceful behavior all she wanted--right now, she aimed to have some fun. Hell or high water.
She chuckled and spiffed up, shampooing her black braids and making sure none had raveled loose. She took her time shaving her legs and under her arms, even her bikini area ... not that she should expect anything to happen, but it never hurt to be prepared.
Getting out of the shower, Kaeli dried off and buffed her skin and nails, and smoothed unscented lotion on her skin until it was velvet soft and glowing with health. She left the bathroom and pulled her underthings out of her suitcase, sitting on the bed as she rolled her hose up her legs. She stood and slipped a garter belt on and, with great difficulty, snapped the garters on her thigh high hose. Her legs were short enough the hose rode up nearly to her crotch, but she thought it was still a sexy look.
The bra she fastened pushed her breasts together, creating an illusion of deep cleavage--the small breasted girl’s best friend. Kaeli donned a skin tight, black mini dress that barely covered the lacy edge her hose and the tops of her breasts. She couldn’t take a deep breath, but she was as sexed as she could get.
She picked up his discarded shirt, folding it as she headed out. It was still early enough in the year that the days were short. The sun was fast dwindling as night approached, and she wondered how she could have spent so much time getting prepared, but then, she’d had a lot to do.
The doorman hailed a taxi for her and she directed the driver to Navarre’s. Within half an hour she was there, standing at a blank metal door and an intercom unit. A camera watched with its unblinking, glass eye. She’d left the cab driver a big tip to wait until she was inside.
Kaeli pushed her thumb on the buzzer, then awaited a response.
“Why you back, chere?” his voice came through the speaker, sounding distant and slightly irritated.
“I just came by to drop your shirt off.” She waved it in front of the camera as proof.
“Keep it. Or leave it outside. I don’ care.”
It was a button down Dolce and Gabbana stretch silk shirt--easily six large ones. He’d want it back, no matter how much damn money he had, and the thrifty shrew in her couldn’t stand to just leave it on the street for anyone to pick up. “Let me in, Navarre! I’m not leaving until I return this to you.”
There was a long pause, and then the door buzzed. Kaeli turned the handle and pushed the door open, and she waved the taxi on. She could always call another one ... later.
Her confidence started dwindling as she walked through the lower floor to the elevator, listening to the hollow echo of her heels on the concrete. By the time she reached the elevator, she’d determined she’d only return his shirt and go back to the hotel. Maybe if she kept this up, at this rate in a week or two she’d be ready to make the first move. She never had a problem unless she was attracted to a man, and then her tongue got tied and her belly clenched with nervousness.
He was out of her league anyway. She didn’t know why she thought he’d be interested in her. Her ass was too big, and her breasts were too small. And she was a few inches shy of average height--short.
Hell. It was no damned wonder she hadn’t had a man in so long, the way she down-rated herself. Kaeli squared her shoulders on the ride, determined to show him what a good thing he was missing out on.
His apartment came into view, and Navarre faced the elevator as it groaned to a halt. He was half naked, and all thought of confidence and nobility and whatever other crap she’d fed herself incinerated as her libido kicked into overdrive. Her throat went dry looking at the bulge of his muscles, the flex of them as he bent and lifted the gate and stepped inside.
The elevator shifted slightly with his weight, balancing. Any other time she might be unnerved. Now, her mind was blank.
Kaeli dumbly held the shirt out to him, not really aware of what she was doing.
The irritated look he’d assumed vanished as his gaze stroked slowly down her body and back up to her face. All that time she’d spent preparing suddenly seemed worth it. The smoldering eyes that met hers burned away the last of her reservations in a flash of heat.
He was upon her in an instant. His hard male body crushed hers against the elevator wall, his fingers dug into her hair. She moaned at the near bruising pressure, the feel of her body melding to his.
“Damn you,” he mumbled, a harsh breath against her lips. He kissed her, unyielding, forcing her open to his invasion. His tongue thrust inside her mouth, and hot need welled instantly between her legs. She could taste the anger in his kiss, reveled in the rough thorough slide of his tongue as he explored the moist crevice of her mouth. Her scalp burned under the grip that tilted her face up as he kissed her greedily.
She felt wet arousal trickle down her thighs, and then he ground his erection into her apex, sparking a primal reaction deep in her core.
Kaeli dug her nails into his biceps as he thrust against her, her hem riding up her thighs until only a thin
