Three Southern Beaches: A Summer Beach Read Box Set (27 page)

“Hold on, little girl. It’s going to be a bumpy ride—a very bumpy ride.”

Chapter 9

His house looked the same as the day I left. A book I had been reading was still on the coffee table and all the feminine touches I had added remained. When I had first moved in it was a total man cave, but Hank was thrilled to let my personality and things join his. The house was perfect—a little bungalow tucked away on a private beach on the outskirts of Hung. We had spent many nights wishing on stars and making plans for the future.

I had loved him since high school. He was four years older and watched me from afar until I graduated college. He made his moves quickly and there was no looking back for either of us. I loved him completely—his strength, compassion and smokin’ hot butt just killed me. I couldn’t believe someone like him wanted someone like me. He was as deadly as he was kind—a rare combination for a Shifter. He was a tough but fair alpha of the pack and had only been challenged once since he took over for his father. The challenge was horrifying. It was the first time I’d seen Hank fight. My alpha was mesmerizing and humbling. That night was also the first night we made love.

“Sit down, Essie,” he said. He paced the room and his power filled it. I sat quietly and waited.

“Hank, I…”

“You what, Essie?”

“Nothing,” I murmured.

“You’re sitting right in front of me, but you’re still running. If you want me, Essie, you’ll have to fight for me.” He crossed his arms over his chest and watched me.

“Will you still fight for me?” I whispered, afraid of his answer.

“I have fought for you from the moment I laid eyes on you…and I never stopped. Not for one moment.”

He was right and it made my shame more debilitating. The silence was heavy and my brain was jumbled.

“Do you still love me?” he asked calmly.

I glanced up and my eyes locked with his. Having nothing left to lose, I nodded my head yes.

“Then you need to show me.”

“I don’t know how.” I was stricken. How could I erase a year of pain and anger?

“Essie, when you left me you were still a girl. I didn’t realize it—I was too close. You became your own woman this year. As much as it sickens me that we weren’t together when this happened, maybe this was the way it was supposed to be.”

“You watched me. You saw everything I did. Why didn’t you drag me home?” I asked. He wasn’t prone to rash action, but he did have the wild possessive streak of a Were.

“Trust me, I was tempted…but I wanted you to grow, and because I had Dwayne’s ear and big mouth I felt secure. Not to mention your Granny said, and I quote ‘I will rip your alpha ass apart if you don’t let that girl find herself’.”

God, my Granny loved me something fierce. Standing up to your alpha was serious business. “What did Dwayne tell you?” I asked as I felt my cheeks heat.

“You’ll have to ask him.” He gave me a half smirk that made me want to weep with joy and tackle him to the ground at the same time.

We stared at each other for a long time. I literally ached to touch him, but I still wasn’t sure what the ground rules were. Did I have to pay penance? I was willing to do anything to regain his trust.

“You’re going to have to make the first move, Essie,” he said quietly and leaned back against the wall.

He was right and I was scared. Maybe he and Granny were correct. Maybe I did have to grow up. I was no longer just the alpha’s gal pal. I was my own woman—an agent, a strong, whole person.

His green eyes turned a silvery blue and I felt wanted for exactly who I was—the crazy girl who would continue to attract trouble and make mistakes. The one who could love him like no other and the one who could finally accept his love in return.

I stood slowly and slipped the straps of my sundress off my shoulders. His body tensed but he stayed still. I let it fall to the floor and I giggled.

“I’m still wired.” I grinned and approached him. My insides danced wildly and the scent of cinnamon filled the room. I was wearing a bra, panties, kick ass wedge Pradas
that belonged to Dwayne
, a wire and a small gun strapped to my inner thigh. I had never felt sexier in my life.

“Officer, I’m going to have to ask you to remove you weapon,” Hank said in his
sheriff voice.

“Wait, isn’t that my line? I’m the agent,” I answered as I bit back a laugh.

“True, but I’m the sheriff and your alpha. I trump. Remove the gun. I plan to spend some time there and I prefer to keep my manly parts.”

“I prefer that you keep your manly parts too,” I said and stopped a breath away from him. His body went as tight as a drum and his Mr. Happy was very happy. I knew it took everything he had not to lunge at me. I marveled at his control and quite honestly at mine too.

Carefully I unstrapped my gun and put it on the coffee table. “Will you help me with the wire?”

“Please?” His lopsided grin melted my insides.

“Please?” I whispered.

Having tape pulled from one’s body was not the usual foreplay I was used to with Hank, but it rocked my world at the moment. He ran his fingertips gently over the reddened skin and followed it with his lips. Somehow my bra and panties disappeared too. How had I not noticed that? Wait, who the hell cared?

I stood before him in only my borrowed heels, feeling shy yet sexy. “You’re a little overdressed,” I murmured as I slid my hands under his shirt and pushed it up over his broad and familiar chest. The light sprinkling of dark hair tickled my fingers and the growl low in his throat made me grab onto him for balance.

He did nothing to help me as I pushed the material over his head. The only clues that he wasn’t as in control as he pretended was his heart. It beat rapidly in his chest and his breathing was labored.

With shaking hands I undid his belt and eased his jeans to the floor. He kicked off his shoes and stepped out of his jeans. Clad only in tight grey boxer briefs, there was no denying he was as attracted to me as I was to him.

“Am I supposed to do everything?” I asked, unsure of how to play.

He put his arms up and locked his fingers behind his head. “I can’t guarantee that I’ll stand still much longer…but for the moment, I find this interesting.” His voice was husky and it sent tingles to my dancing insides.

“
Interesting
?” I rolled my eyes and decided interesting was for textbooks, not seductions. I clearly needed to amp up the action.

I quickly grabbed the elastic of his boxer briefs and pushed them down. Coming face to face with one of my favorite parts of his body, I gave it a kiss and was rewarded with a harsh intake of breath. I refused to be interesting…

“Essie,” he warned. “I won’t promise to be gentle. I want you too badly.”

His arm muscles bulged and I could tell it took all he had to keep them locked behind his head. My heart pounded hard in my chest and I realized this was the first time I’d ever taken the lead and I liked it.

“I don’t want gentle,” I purred. “But if you move your hands, I’ll get dressed and leave.”

His eyes flashed. His wolf was so close to the surface, I almost took back my threat. However my inner wolf was so excited I borrowed her confidence and continued.

“Go to the couch and sit,” I instructed and waited to see what he’d do.

“Yes, ma’am.” His grin was so evilly sexy I almost knocked him to the floor and yelled “Game over.” But I held on and followed him.

He was such a beautiful man. My breath caught in my throat as my eyes roamed every inch of his body. I felt alive, sexy, naughty and very, very happy. Crawling on top of him, I straddled his legs carefully, making sure no lady parts touched any man parts. His moan unfurled a hot coil of lust low in my belly and I was unsure how much longer I could tease him.

Leaning forward, I traced his closed lips with the tip of my tongue. He tasted of man and sin. I coaxed his lips open and slowly explored his mouth. My eyes fluttered shut and my body clenched in anticipation of what I knew would happen…of what I wanted and needed to happen.

“No more,” he ground out as his strong arms trapped my body against his, crushing my breasts to his chest and my pelvis to his. “Open your eyes, Essie. See me. See what you do to me,” he demanded.

I opened my eyes and forgot how to breathe. His desire was overwhelming and matched the fire that was building inside of me. I had never wanted him more. His fingers found the spot that made speech impossible. I ground against his hand and whimpered my need. His lips captured my nipple and I arched, offering myself to him—mind, body and soul.

“I can’t wait,” he hissed as his fangs scraped my breast, sending chills rippling over my body.

“No waiting,” I gasped and I took him in my hand. He was perfect, so hard and as smooth as silk. His hands grasped my hips in an unbreakable hold as he moved me where he wanted me.

“Put me inside you,” he muttered hoarsely. His eyes were unfocused and he was close to snapping. The power I wielded over him made me bold and fearless. I guided him to me and eased my body onto his. My breath caught and I bit down on my lip as he stretched me to accommodate his girth. It was like coming home. The slight burn was painfully addictive and my body clenched in protest.

“Relax, baby,” he whispered in my ear. “Let me in.”

I teetered on the edge between pleasure and pain that excited me like nothing else and I slowly let my body accept his. Sheer excitement took the non-stop train through me as I hissed and cried out. The fit was so very tight and so very perfect. He was going to own my body and heart in the most intimate way.

The time for slow and easy had passed and his grip on my hips tightened as he moved my body up and down the thick length of him. Pleasure jolted through me as he took my nipple in his hot mouth. I contracted around his body and he swore, explaining in graphic detail what he wanted to do to me. The blood roaring in my ears made the sound of his voice a distant noise. A fullness overwhelmed me and I rocked in a sensual rhythm that was natural and age old.

“Oh my god,” I moaned. “Too much.” The sensitivity was intense and I didn’t know how much more I could handle before I detonated.

“You’re mine,” he insisted. “Say it.”

“You’re mine too,” I shot back.

“Say it, Essie,” he demanded as he increased the speed to something that would have killed a mere human. We made love like the animals that we were. The sound of our bodies rapidly joining almost sent me over the edge.

“Mine,” he growled. “Always.”

“I’m yours,” I screamed as colors ripped across my vision and my body gripped his like a vise. “Always.” Tremors shook me violently as he continued his assault.

Hank went crazy and branded my body with his need. He threw back his head and howled as he joined me in climax.

We’d had sex many times, but it had never been like this. I’d be damned if I could remember my name, much less what year it was. I shook like a leaf as I came down from the most intense orgasm of my life. He pressed soft kisses all over my face and neck as I held on to the man I loved for dear life.

It had been more than sex…we had combined who we were and became a different entity altogether. Was this what it felt like to mate? Was he my true mate?

Shockingly a need tore through me again, but it was different. My body was useless, but my desire to be even closer to him bordered on obsession.

“What’s happening to me?” I asked. I was lightheaded and my fangs had descended. All I could focus on was the tanned beautiful skin on his neck.

“Are you ready for this?” he asked as he held me at arm’s length. “There’s no going back.”

“Wait. What?”

“Essie.” He eased me off of him and walked in all his naked glory to the other side of the room. His body was taut and the veins in his muscles strained against his skin. “Our wolves want to mate. Is your human side willing to do that?” His gaze narrowed and I knew the internal battle he fought to have pushed me away. I felt it too.

He was asking me to become his. Forever. It was a silly question and I smiled. I had always wanted that. Maybe I hadn’t been ready until this moment, but there was no doubt in my mind or heart whatsoever.

“Will you be mine?” I questioned him.

“I already am,” he replied.

“I think I wanna bite you.” I grinned and held my arms out.

“Think?”

“I know. I know I wanna bite you. Sink my teeth into you and take you off the market for the rest of your ridiculously long life.”

He was on me so fast my head spun and I shrieked with laughter as he tickled me and held me close.

“I am so in love with you I can’t see straight,” he muttered against the skin on my neck.

“Me too. How do we do this? Will it hurt?”

“Considering I’ve never done it, I can’t really answer that one. Although the stories say it causes the most intense orgasm one can have.”

“Oh my hell,” I whispered as my exhausted body miraculously came back to life. “We might die from that.”

“True, but I’m willing to go down for such a noble cause.” He grinned and my tummy did a somersault.

“On three?” I said in an unsteady voice.