Savage Awakening (Alpha Pack #2)(65)

"It's all good, Red." He waved a hand at Rowan. "You can't blame a guy for trying to catch a gorgeous, smart, kick-butt woman, can you?"

Aric snorted. "Guess not. Just don't let it happen again."

"No prob. I'll leave you two alone. Rowan, until later." With a wink, he headed toward the building.

"I hope I didn't hurt his feelings," she said, frowning. "He's a fantastic man."

"Just how fantastic is he?" Stepping up, he wrapped both arms around her, pulled her flush against his over-warm body. "As good as this?"

His lips nibbled at hers and his tongue flicked gently, rather than swooping in for the searing, take-charge kiss he usually delivered. This one was no less dominant, but was... tender. Sweet and searching. Instead of a bolt of lightning, the tingle spread to her belly and toes like ripples on a beautiful pond, sparkling with light.

One of his hands cupped her cheek, and his thumb stroked her jaw as he deepened the kiss. He ate her mouth slowly, as though savoring her as long as possible, before drawing back. "My room?"

"Let's go." The words were out before she thought twice. The need to be with him was like an irresistible pull, so powerful a force it was useless to fight it. So she didn't try, just for tonight.

Again, she thought of Hammer-no, John-asking her out, and mused over her refusal. Though she'd been tempted, there was really no question that she couldn't have done it. The two men were as different as night and day; one a gentle giant, one all fire and tempest. John was very nice, but... the redhead called to her blood, challenged her, excited her as no man ever had.

For all his sarcasm and rough edges, most of it was a front. Aric was kind, and he cared almost too much. His guilt over Beryl had nearly killed him. He was loyal and loved his "brothers." He'd stuck by Rowan through Micah's recovery.

He was spontaneous and fun, too. She thought of their rendezvous outside the Grizzly and her libido heated. No man had ever taken her in public before, or at least in a place where anyone could've happened along. He made her feel alive, and he had a wicked sense of humor.

Aric had wrapped himself around her heart. And refused to let go.

The walk to his quarters was quick, and they burst inside stripping off their clothes. In his bedroom, he pushed her gently onto her back and moved over her like a blanket, alive and real. Her palms skimmed his back, mapped his muscles, his spine. When he brought the head of his c**k to her opening and began to push inside, she opened, welcoming him. Sought the connection that was more than just physical, though she didn't know what exactly that might be. It was the same mysterious thing that drew her to him time and again, a force bigger than the both of them.

Then she quit analyzing and let herself go, got lost in the thrust of his body, the way he danced over her gracefully. Stoked the fires higher. Wrapping her legs around his waist, she arched to meet him, taking him in as far as possible, kissing and licking the salty skin of his neck and chest. His chest rumbled, so obviously he liked her attentions. She kept it up, kneading the round globes of his ass as he made love to her.

And there could be no doubt-this was making love.

Right then, her heart trembled under an assault it had never experienced before. Hadn't wanted to know. She wouldn't name it, but it hung there in all its soul-shattering intensity, with the power to heal, to liberate.

Or to decimate.

"Oh, God, baby! I can't stop," he panted. He drove into her, picking up the pace.

"Don't stop! Please, Aric! I need you!"

That sent him over the edge and he buried himself to the hilt, shouting his pleasure. Hot seed bathed her womb as she found her own release, clinging to him. Her lifeline in the storm.

The man she'd soon have to tell good-bye when she left for a city and a cold apartment that would no longer feel like home.

Not since a certain wolf and his family had gotten under her skin. And buried themselves in her heart.

The voice was noxious, like poison in his veins. Carbon monoxide in an enclosed space. A spike driven under a fingernail.

Kalen sat on his bed, head in his hands. Tried to shut out the intruder, but it was getting harder-no, almost impossible-to do. Even Nick with all his strength in foretelling the future couldn't know what Kalen truly suffered. How bad the torment really was. The lure.

Nick had "seen" only a hint but couldn't have guessed that the possible destruction of the entire Alpha Pack team-the world-rested on the shoulders of a young Sorcerer who'd never known love, or loyalty. That the Unseelie beast enjoyed exploiting that weakness. Had no idea that Kalen was losing ground every day in his battle against the darkness.

Because if Nick knew, Kalen would be dead already.

Without the pendant he was lost. His wards didn't work on himself.

Better him than Mackenzie. He would protect her, no matter the price. With his last breath, when the time came.

And it would come.

Yesss, my boy, the voice purred seductively. Why do you bother to fight what you know is true? You are mine, and I do not share.

"Shut up, ass**le," Kalen hissed. "You're full of shit."

Am I? Does your pulse not quicken at the image of the ultimate power we'll wield together? Does your c**k not harden at the mere sound of my voice?

His groin throbbed, his length pushing against his leathers. Dark need demanded to be satisfied, the lust for mastery. To own all of the world.