Savage Urges (The Phoenix Pack, #5)(39)

Grace popped a grape in her mouth. “Do you keep in touch with any of the loners you rehome?”

Makenna felt Zac still beside her. “If they’re okay with that, yes.” She liked to be sure that the placement was working out for them, and that they were happy and safe.

Dominic nudged Zac. “So, you staying over tonight? I figured you’d want to try out your room.”

Wide-eyed, Zac glanced around the table and swallowed hard.

“Come on,” urged Dominic, “it’ll be fun. Makenna can stay over too.”

“But . . . I don’t have any stuff with me,” Zac pointed out.

“Actually, the guys bought you some new clothes,” said Taryn.

Ryan grunted. “You’ll need stuff of your own when you move here, so we got you some.”

“I can lend Makenna some sweats to wear for bed,” offered Jaime. She cocked her head at Zac. “So, what do you say?”

As Zac looked at Makenna, seeming torn, she asked, “Would you like to stay over?”

He swallowed. “You’ll stay too?”

“If that’s what you want.”

Zac turned to Dominic. “Okay. I’d like that.”

Makenna smiled. It was a big move for Zac. A step in the right direction that—

Crack.

Before Makenna could wonder at the sound, Ryan sort of disappeared from her peripheral vision. Blinking, she looked down to see that one of his wooden chair legs had broken, and he was now awkwardly wedged between her and Trick.

“Damn, you okay?” asked Trick, shoulders shaking.

Not at all impressed with the situation—or with Dominic and Zac for laughing so hard they couldn’t seem to breathe—Ryan got to his feet and shoved the chair away. He glared at Makenna, who was wearing an “I told you so” look. “Don’t say it.”

She held her hands up, averting her gaze. “I wasn’t gonna.”

They both knew that was a lie.


Later, when the BBQ was over and the sky had darkened, everyone cleaned up and then filed back inside the mountain. Jaime lent Makenna some clothes, and then Ryan and Dominic escorted her and Zac to the second floor. Stopping outside Zac’s door, Ryan pointed to a room at the end of the tunnel. “That’s where Makenna will be staying.” Ryan would prefer to have her in his room, but he knew Zac would feel better if she were close by.

“Whoa, wait,” Dominic said to Zac. “You’re not going to bed yet, are you? Come play pool with Trick, Tao, and me.”

Zac turned to Makenna, who gave him a look that said it was his decision. He shrugged at Dominic. “Sure.” The two males disappeared down the tunnels, talking and laughing.

Ryan led Makenna to her room, opened the door, and moved aside for her to enter.

She walked inside, admiring every inch of the space. “Nice.” Hell, the guest room was nicer than her apartment. It was like a luxurious hotel room, complete with a balcony and an en-suite bathroom.

Hearing the door shut behind her, she turned in time to see Ryan turn the lock. The raw hunger in his dark eyes tightened her nipples . . . and told her exactly what his intentions were. That hunger called to hers, pulsing in the air like a living thing. Even though she knew this wouldn’t be a good idea, excitement burst through her, making her heart pound and her mouth dry up.

She forced a breezy smile. “Zac’s clearly having a great time. Your pack’s been very welcoming, which really put him at ease. His room’s perfect for him, by the way. I’m betting Lydia designed it. You know, I think you’ve got a good chance of making Zac join your pack sometime soon. I mean, he—”

“You’re rambling,” said Ryan, stalking toward her.

“I’m not rambling.”

“You’re nervous, so you’re rambling.”

Shit, she was. “Why would I be nervous?”

He backed her against the wall next to the balcony door. “Because you know exactly what’s going to happen.” He was going to f*ck her again and again, until neither of them could walk. He buried his face in the crook of her neck, taking her scent inside him where it belonged. It was spiced with arousal, making his wolf growl.

Makenna shook her head as his warm hands settled on her thighs possessively. “You’ll try to claim me.” Her voice came out embarrassingly breathy.

Loving the feel of her soft skin, Ryan slowly snaked his hands under her dress and up her inner thighs. “I’m not going to claim you until you’re positive in your mind that I’m your mate.” Otherwise, it would have no meaning. A claiming was a sacred thing, and he would never disrespect it or her that way. “But I am going to f*ck you.”

Gripping his T-shirt, Makenna gasped as his thumbs slid just under her panties and idly stroked the outer edges of her folds. Her * clenched. She was already wet and he’d barely touched her. But then, Ryan never needed to touch her to reduce her body to a puddle of need. It always responded to him, had done so since the first moment they’d met.

Yet, as he’d pointed out, Makenna was nervous. She liked sex; she was no stranger to it. But this . . . it felt different. Maybe it was because she was used to one-night stands and short, shallow flings. It was different with Ryan because she respected him, admired him, and he appealed to her on a level no one else ever had. Not to mention that he thought she was his mate. “Ryan . . .”