Embedded inside her to the hilt, he allowed a moment to pass as he remained still.
Her heartbeat thundered in her ears.
Instinct ruled as she widened her stance.
His sharp intake of breath was the only warning provided.
Long fingers bit into her flesh. One arm snaked under her, winding to flatten against her upper chest and yank her to him. Her head jerked up. Her back bowed. With one hand, he controlled her completely as he started to move.
To pound.
To take her like the wolf he was.
The force of his thrusts pressed her against the desk. Restrained, she couldn’t move, could do nothing but feel. The sense of helplessness heightened every sensation. She lifted onto her tiptoes, taking more of him. Taking
The pounding increased in strength and speed.
Her calves trembled, the sensation rippling up her legs, her butt, her spine, to the top of her neck. She tightened around him, gripping with a strength that shot tears into her eyes. Each hard thrust blasted stabs of pleasure through her skin.
She was so close.
With a sharp cry of relief, she broke.
She screamed as great spasms rode her into blasting waves that battered into a painful pleasure. The fine line between the two blurred, leaving only sensation. Deep, dark, dangerous sensation. A feeling she’d always know existed ... would always want.
Only Terrent Vilks could create it.
Coming down with a sob, her body went limp.
The powerful shifter ground against her, his whisper of her name the barest of kisses on her neck.
Chapter Seven
Maggie tugged down her sweater and tripped over a rock.
Terrent shut the passenger door of his SUV and grabbed her arm. “You okay?”
“Yes.” She righted herself. What had she been thinking in his study? She’d never look at a walnut desk the same way again. Any desk, actually.
“Why are you grinning?” He slipped an arm around her shoulders, providing balance and safety.
Of a sort.
“I’m not.” She picked her way carefully over the gravel drive and wiped the smile off her face. Nope. Still smiling.“Why are we going to this shindig?”
He shrugged and nearly dislodged her. “We live in this pack’s boundaries, and we were invited to the celebration. So we go.”
So this was what being part of a couple felt like. After living with all the happily mated vampires, she’d wondered.
The man’s use of the word “we” warmed something inside her. But she wouldn’t completely know herself, know what she wanted, until her memories returned. “We don’t live together, Terrent.” Their grappling over the desk notwith-standing.
“We will.” His worn black T-shirt emphasized solid muscle, while his faded, ripped jeans encased long legs.
“You need a new wardrobe.”
He threw back his head and laughed, the sound almost happy. “So you’ve always said.”
“Your wardrobe bothered me?” Her boot tottered on loose gravel, and she grabbed his waist to keep from falling.
“Not really. But you liked to give me a hard time, anyway.”
Yeah. That sounded like her. She swallowed. They loped across a worn trail from the parking lot at the rear of the main lodge. Now was the chance for her to do what the king had asked—investigate the inoculation problem. “I guess it’ll be nice to meet some other wolves.”
“Hmmm.”
“Why didn’t you mark me? I mean, back at the cabin.”
Shit. She hadn’t meant to blurt out those words. But she’d been restrained, turned on, and would’ve agreed to anything.
His hold tightened. “I’ll mark you when you’re ready.
When you agree with a clear mind.”
“What if I don’t agree?”
“You will.” He brushed a kiss along her temple. “Mating is forever. You need to make the choice on your own.”
What an awfully reasoned approach for a wolf to make.
“Sometimes you surprise me.”
His shrug nearly knocked her on her butt. “Sorry.” He helped to right her.
“My fault.” Being a klutz sucked. “So, um, when you fought, you were both human and wolf. That’s not normal, is it?”
“No.”
She waited for more, but he remained silent. “I don’t understand.”
“It’s part of being Skene. We’re good fighters because of the ability, which is one of the reasons our enemies took us out. It was also why I was trained so early to be on the Council.”
Sounded seriously lonely. Maggie wrapped her fingers tighter around his. “So, how about a tour of the wolf headquarters?”
“Sure.” He maneuvered her closer to the main lodge.
“Are you considering staying here?”
The thought occurred to her to lie, but she couldn’t do it after the day they’d shared. “No. Even if I remember my life and know I love you and want to get hitched, I’m not living here without you.”
“You can’t hunt with me.”
Now she shrugged. “So it’s an impasse. We don’t mate.”
“We’ve had this discussion before.”
“I was right then, too.”
He slowed. “Are you remembering?”
Her shoulders straightened. “No. I mean, sometimes I hear your voice right before I wake up. Your voice with the brogue. But that’s all.”
He turned her to face him. “That’s incredibly sweet.”
Warmth settled across his rugged cheekbones.
Heat climbed into hers. “I’m not sweet. Telling you the truth seems to be the easiest path.” Her grin even felt happy.
“Even though I don’t remember my past yet, I do feel like I loved you.” She kicked a loose pebble, her gaze dropping.
“A lot.”
One knuckle under her chin lifted her face. “I loved you more.” His mouth took hers.
Warm and gentle, his kiss wandered right down to her heart and spread.
He lifted his head. “You may never remember your past, sweetheart. But you’re strong enough to go forward and create a good life for yourself. Trust me.”
“I do trust you.” Was it possible for her to move on without knowing herself ?
“Good. Are you ready for a wolf party?”
