“You don’t have to say anything. It’s okay. I really needed that.” Her words still breathy as if she couldn’t catch the air in her lungs yet.
He’d done that, and that part had him smiling. The scent of her sated arousal still lingering in the alley, completely overpowering the scents of earlier. He could smell nothing but her.
But, wait. What the heck did she just say?
“It’s not supposed to happen like this.”
Olivia faltered as she played with the wrinkles on her once pristine dress. “You’re a guy. Don’t one night stands always happen? I mean look at you.” Her eyes darkened, and for the first time in his life, he felt like a juicy steak being dangled at the mouth of a predator.
He quickly shook it off.
“No.”
“No, What? No one night stands? Or this isn’t how they usually happen? I don’t mind. I didn’t know sex could be like that.”
What the fuck was she talking about? This wasn’t going well at all.
“I’m a shifter.” He gestured between the two of them.
She nodded.
“Don’t you get it?”
She pursed her lips and crossed her arms over her chest. And damn that chest had his mind wandering all over again.
The sound of children laughing in the distance was the only thing that broke him from the horrible direction this conversation was going.
“Oh shit. Can I call you?” he asked.
“Sure.”
Before she could say anything else, Ethan sprinted off to the baby shower. He was the worst person. He’d abandoned the one person who trusted him to not hurt her. For sex. No, not sex. For his mate.
He’d just screwed up worse than ever before. He'd just mated Olivia, and she didn't even know what that meant.
Trusting his instincts seemed to get him into a lifetime of trouble.
He took the building stairs two by two and paused to sniff the air. She was still close, he could catch the sweet nectar of her scent anywhere for the rest of his life.
He knew she was the one for him, but she was a witch. What did that even mean for them? Could she feel the pull, the agony of being apart already?
He'd heard stories about mating. He knew how his dad had asked his mom.
Great job asshole. You just tied yourself to a woman who you don't even know her last name.
Chapter 5
Olivia let the door fall closed behind her. Leaning against the thick wood, she stood staring at the early evening light filtering through the windows.
“What did I just do?”
Her breathing hitched at the memories of his body. His solid arms a fortress around her. Who knew sex could be like that?
Covering her face with her hands, a giggle escaped. At the heat of her own skin, she recalled the strength of his hands holding her hips and moaned.
Remembering the pleasure, and also, the embarrassment. How was she supposed to face him after that?
Olivia dropped her hands and realized she didn’t know if she’d see him again. Or did she? An odd spark within her said this was only the start. She wanted to see him again.. Good Lord, did she want to.
She let her head lull against the door and blew out a long breath. Her eyes fluttering closed. She needed to see him again.
The familiar silence of the apartment gave way to little comfort.
No one had ever wanted her like that.
The hum of the fridge, the buzz of electricity, and the muted steps of other tenants in apartments created a dull soundtrack to her life.
Absently she rubbed at her shoulder, an odd ache. Granted she’d just had sex, twice, in an alley. Who knows what she pulled or scratched? The flash of Ethan's eyes as he’d relentlessly taken her surfaced. She bit back a moan. The man could make her come at the memory of each thrust. His dick pushed her further and faster over a cliff she’d never stood on before. His body had hit nerves she’d never known existed. A shiver chased up her spine at every memory. Recalling how'd he'd hit each little button she'd never known existed.
“Damn it.” Olivia wasn’t impulsive. She wasn’t a sex-crazed teen. No. She was a mature adult. So, what the hell had just happened and when would it happen again?
Slowly she slid down the door as she closed her eyes trying to remember every movement. Trying to recall the way his breathing shuddered as he came. The scent of his sweat. He’d kissed her with tender lips even if their lovemaking had been only need and want and desire, fast and urgent.
She giggled. Olivia didn’t want to admit it, but she had needed that. She’d needed to feel wanted, needed to know what it was like to be desired. Her hands slowly trailed down her neck, over her breasts, down the fabric of her dress, and settled between the folds of the cotton pressing against the v of her thighs. Her muscles ached in a delicious new way.
Confusion found its way past the delusion of happiness. She wanted to hide right now as the bitter taste of embarrassment found her. He’d nearly tripped as he fled, pulling at the waist of his pants. Why had he run from her? He’d said all the right things and made her feel special. And then Ethan left her standing next to dumpsters. Sure, he hadn’t looked away until the last second, but he hadn’t said anything. Right? She swore he’d said he’d find her later. Hadn’t he?
Okay, so maybe her body was happy and sated, then why didn’t she feel better about any of this? Her mind wasn’t her own, not when he was around. Her body did the talking and her heart... She couldn’t have walked away even if she wanted to. Confusion mixed with the pleasure seemed to cool off her body at the thought she’d never see him again. Olivia shivered.
Opening
