Ariel (11 page)

“No. I’m not shifting again until you tell me how to do it with my clothes on. Despite the last few days, I assure you I am not an exhibitionist. Matt gives every male who comes near me the stink eye as it is. Helping with my burning has made him nuts, I think. His possessiveness is annoying, but he’s been so nice otherwise, I haven’t said anything to him yet.”

Reed shook his head sadly. “I’m sorry to once again be of absolutely no help to you. I use my mind to keep my clothes hidden with my human form, but I can’t tell you how it works. Some werewolves can do it. Others can’t. I find it keeps things entertaining. Seeing werewolves reacting to their naked human forms is very funny.”

“Damn it. I was afraid you were going to say something like that. Accepting disappearing and reappearing clothes is as crazy as believing in string theory,” Ariel complained, kicking the bottom step with her boot.

“I don’t know about your theories. Would it help if I said werewolves don’t judge nudity the way humans do? No one would ever criticize your human form, regardless of its condition. They might comment on your wolf’s size, but only because she’s very large even for an alpha bitch…I mean
female
,” Reed corrected, grinning at Ariel’s offended glared.

“Don’t make me kick your ass. I hate the ‘b’ word with a passion.”

Reed chuckled. “Before I am reduced to gray goo, I need to fix some things in my pack. Are you going to be okay if I leave you alone with Matthew Gray Wolf until I get them done?”

“What kind of things?” Ariel demanded, her gut clenching. “The idea of you being somewhere I can’t see you is alarming on just about every level. My attachment to you borders on neurotic.”

Reed scooted closer and put an arm around her to hug. “I’m sorry. You’re not being neurotic. You’re learning to live with the wolf side I gave you, so it’s natural you’d look to me for guidance. I didn’t mean it to work out this way, Ariel Jones. Maybe I have become your father. I will return to you when my pack is back to normal. Maybe Brandi can give me information that will shorten my investigations.”

“What kind of information?”

“Let’s talk to Brandi together so I don’t have to tell another long story right now. Let’s give ourselves the afternoon to absorb all you’ve learned already. Spend some time relaxing with Matt. He’s running through the woods to burn off his energy so he won’t attack you once you’re alone again.”

Ariel felt power in the ground and looked up to see a giant silver and gray wolf emerge from the woods. “Are alphas always so…amazing?”

“Yes. Now go out to meet him. It will make your friend-with-benefits happy,” Reed encouraged, teasing her about her connection.

Sighing, Ariel slid down the other two steps and stood to her full height, which was even taller in the boots. She walked toward the wolf who was equal in size, if not bigger, than Reed. A bit of fear skidded through her unchecked as she got closer. It was an emotion she never felt at all with Reed. Images of Matt climbing up on his desk to cover her body with his flitted through her mind non-stop. The wolf stopped two feet in front of her to sniff the air.

“Yes, I’m having dirty thoughts about us, only in them we’re both human. There’s no fooling your wolf nose, is there?”

Matt hung his head and looked back at Reed.

“What are you worried about? Reed’s the one who sent me out to you. And you’re just as big as he is as a wolf—maybe bigger. He was right about your size being equal to his.”

Nose down, Matt walked forward and nudged her hand until it went to his head to stroke. Ariel laughed softly, and ran her hand over his crown and down his sleek neck. His whimper of pleasure was soft, but she heard it. The sound had her dropping to her knees to embrace him. It was all she could do to hold his giant wolf form in her arms. When he licked the side of her face, she giggled.

“Your wolf’s just a big old puppy dog, isn’t he?”

It only took a tiny push from Matt’s large form to put her flat on her back and staring up at a set of snarling teeth. Instead of shivering in fear, she had to fight another giggle.

“Now shift back to human form and make all my fantasies come true,” Ariel ordered, laughing at his wolf’s shocked reaction.

Whimpering and shaking his head, Matt backed up and away from her. His shift to human form had her swearing.

“I will give you the sexual favor of your choice if you will tell me right now how to shift with my clothes on,” Ariel said.

Matt chuckled as he reached down a hand. “I wish I could tell you just to see if you’d keep your word about the favor, but I swear I don’t know. One day it just happened. I’ve been able to do it since. I was probably around your age when I figured it out.”

“A declaration of what you can do is not the same as an explanation of how it is done. No special sex for you today,” Ariel declared.

Matt laughed as he pulled Ariel up to stand and it felt good when he saw Reed smiling at them. It was like gaining approval of his unwilling courtship. He also imagined the Black Wolf Alpha was hearing every word they said to each other as well.

“Come home with me and I’ll feed you again. I called Nanuka and asked her to shop for food. I made sure she bought more ham.”

As if on cue, her stomach rumbled at the thought of meat. “You sure are saying all the right things. I’m starved…and for more than just food this time, Matthew Gray Wolf.”

Smiling, Matt grabbed her hand and tugged her with him up the yard.

“We’re going home,” he told the Black Wolf Alpha when they were level with the deck.

“Good,” Reed said, grinning. “About time.”

“I want to be involved in any discussion involving the women. One of them may be joining my pack soon,” Matt declared.

Ariel snorted. “Don’t go getting any ideas about us.”

Matt looked sideways. “I was talking about Heidi. Ryan called me several times asking how to get her to admit she likes him.”

Ariel rolled her eyes and swore. “Sorry I presumed.”

Matt smiled at Reed when Ariel refused to look at him.

Reed smiled back. “I have no problem with you knowing my truth, Matt.”

Matt had to let go when Ariel rushed to Reed and hugged him tightly. He looked off to keep from glaring over it.

Ariel smacked his arm hard as she stomped back to him. “Reed’s like my father. Get over that shit before I look for someone who can better handle how screwed-up my life is.”

Matt grunted and smacked her ass as he flew passed her in a full-out run.

“Hey. I killed a man for doing that, Matthew Gray Wolf. Don’t make me sick my wolf on you.”

Behind her, she heard Reed laughing as she rubbed her butt.

Chapter 9

“You’ve kept me waiting so long, I don’t know what to do first. I’m like a starving man at a feast.”

Ariel groaned at his sexy declaration and raised as far as she could until her mouth latched onto his. Matt had hold of her wrists so she couldn’t drag him down to her. She probably should have been offended at being restrained, but she could tell he was doing it more for his benefit than hers. It made her wonder what Matt was holding back from her.

She spun out of their kiss until his mouth followed hers back to the pillow her head landed on. He was tense in her arms, corded muscles solidly pressed against her. All his strength seemed dedicated to slowing down what she wanted to happen as soon as it could. When he broke away from her kiss at last, she was gasping for breath.

“Matt—I don’t think I can keep playing the part of the obedient bed partner if you decide to torture me.”

He released her wrists and let his mouth trace down her neck, his tongue licking the last third of the way.

“Fine. Keep your wrists up for as long as you can. No taking over this time,” he ordered.

Ariel nodded, her stomach rippling as Matt’s tongue licked a line between her breasts and down. A groan was ripped from her when he travelled lower and lifted her hips in both his very large hands. One spectacular lick into her had her arching upward. The second sent her over the edge she’d been hanging on. A few more languorous licks left her nearly comatose as she crested through the violent release he gave her. She quivered with even more anticipation when Matt let go and climbed back up the bed to straddle her body. His bed was so much better than being on his desk.

“Your burning is every bit as delicious as it smells. Are you sure about not using a condom this time?”

“It’s your call.”

“Conception heat in a female werewolf is different from regular lust. I haven’t experienced it, but I’ve heard a lot about it. I don’t think that’s what happening with you.”

“I don’t think my nanos are ever going to let an egg be fertilized. That wouldn’t be Crazy Crane’s style to let conception happen naturally. As for today, Reed said I needed everything you have to offer to really reduce the burning’s urges. He was being polite, but I assume he meant my body needs to absorb the hormones contained in your ejaculate.”

“Stop. Gag, that sounds so awful. No more science words during sex with me,” he ordered, listening to her laugh at his protest.

He shook like it was his first time with a female as he eased the full naked length of his erection inside her. Ariel moved beneath him to accommodate his size, just like she had before. The intense heat of her pulsing channel made him gasp for breath, fighting to last more than an untried boy. Her burning made demands on his body, but because it was Ariel, he didn’t mind meeting every single one of them. She would never deliberately take advantage of the edge it gave her physically. Her mind was too logical to care about normal female manipulation.

As he began to move, her body matched each slow thrust he made. It was the most luxurious fucking he’d ever indulged in with any female. She moved sensuously in his arms, following his lead, and did so without ever realizing her actions were a form of obedience. It was just natural…and easy…and everything he’d always wished for with other females and never found with them.

Delirious with the satisfaction Ariel provided, he kissed her over and over. He kissed her through the whimpering groans of her climax rebuilding because of his thrusts. When she crested a second time, he let himself find release inside her as they both rode the last wave of climax together.

“You are the most incredible female I’ve ever known,” he whispered, smiling when she patted his face in reply instead of speaking.

Moments later her body grew lax under his, her arms dropping away from holding him, but he couldn’t make himself leave her. So he stayed where he was, semi-erect within her, kissing her face and brushing her hair back as she spun down from lust and headed into a peaceful sleep.

When he felt himself finally getting drowsy too, Matt rolled them both to their sides. He started to speak, but noticed Ariel was already out cold in his arms. Her absolute trust in him to take care of her filled some hole in his gut he hadn’t even known needed filling.

Damn the young alpha for being so perfect
.

He truly never intended to like her so much, and worse, Ariel wasn’t even trying to get him to. Her falling asleep with no thought of protecting herself made him feel at least as important to her as Reed was turning out to be. The thought that he might one day come to matter more to her than her creator was very appealing. Not that he had a problem with the ancient one. He actually had a lot of respect for the way Reed had stood by the women and been there to make sure the males in his pack were treating them well.

Matt laid his head next to Ariel’s on the pillow. He was worried about what she and Reed had discussed while he’d been in the woods. Whatever it was, she wouldn’t have to face it alone.

***

Gareth watched Brandi gathering her clothes knowing she intended to head to the spare bedroom he had provided her. Ironically, the only reason he’d offered the other room was because he knew Brandi didn’t want to spend the whole evening in his bed, much less the whole night.

“Are you sure you got enough satisfaction to put out your fire?” he asked, offended by her snicker at his concerned question.

Brandi shrugged as she draped her clothing over her arm. “Yes. Reed was right. Not using a condom was way better and the effects were immediate.”

“And did the oral gratification help as well?” Gareth asked.

Brandi laughed, unable to help herself as she picked up her boots and socks. After sex with Gareth, she was always too hot to have anything touch her skin. It was the only time being naked ever felt truly good to her.

“Your tongue technique is excellent. I guess that’s a big plus for all werewolves, huh?”

Brandi heard Gareth growl low at her teasing as she headed to the door. The grumbling from her nearly silent lover had her hesitating. Man, she sucked at the after part. She always had.

“What do you want from me, Gareth? You want some ego stroking. Fine. Your dick is a pleasure tool and your tongue a gift to all women. There. Does that cover everything? Tell me what you want to hear and I’ll say it. I’ve already thanked you. Now I need to get some sleep.”