Bonded (8 page)

Soon their hearts
were pounding, their hands pulling at the barrier of cloth that
separated them.

Breaking the kiss,
Brandi gasped. “Inside. Now.”

They stumbled from
the car and moved to her apartment. Reno had only the vaguest
impression of her home—cheap furnishing, a student’s
dwelling—before she led him to her bedroom. As the door clicked
shut, desire took over until all that existed was the inferno of
feeling between them.

How they ended up
naked on her bed he didn’t know or care. She was there beneath him,
her hair spread out on the pillows like a fiery halo, her green
eyes staring up at him hungrily. Her skin gleamed in the moonlight
that illuminated the room, every curve seductively calling for him
to worship her.

How could one
female be so beautiful? So desirable? He skimmed his hands down her
body, her moans of delight driving his own desire ever higher until
he could barely think. She was everything he’d ever dreamed of,
warm and soft and lush.

Only at the last
minute did he remember to don a condom before sliding between her
willing thighs and sinking slowly into her hot body. As her walls
enclosed his throbbing shaft and her gasp filled his ears, he
shuddered, fighting against his wolf’s urgings to possess, to
mark...

Reno moved his
hips deliberately, drawing out the moment, listening to her sighs
and moans of pleasure. The sound wrapped around his heart, but he
couldn’t concentrate enough to wonder why. Feeling was all that
existed. A delightful pressure was building inside him, starting at
the base of his spine, and expanding with every slow thrust.

Skin sliding
against skin, warm and wet. Panting breaths, inarticulate sounds.
Brandi was clutching at his back, urging him onward while his own
wolf was pushing impatiently at the restraints he imposed.

The animal wanted
out. His jaw ached as his canines partially extended. Reno shook
his head and tried to force them back. No. No biting. Despite the
command he found himself shifting position. His hands were no
longer on her hips; they were bracing his weight on either side of
her head. He was leaning forward, eyes focussed on the slim column
of her neck.

Brandi whimpered,
her head thrown back, her throat exposed. He licked the vein at the
side, then ran his teeth over the area not breaking the skin, but
wanting to, desperately. His body shook with the need and he jerked
his head back, clenching his jaw.

What the hell was
going on? A moment of clarity had him questioning his own actions.
This had never happened to him! His hands fisted and he shook his
head trying to clear his mind. Focus on this, he told himself as he
gave a hard, deep thrust. The wetness, the heat, the clenching of
her body around his as she started to climax. Brandi dug her nails
into his skin and he welcomed the small erotic pain.

“Reno...?” There
was a hint of panic her voice. He blinked, sweat stinging his eyes
as he tried to see her clearly. Her pupils were dilated, a hint of
canines showed between her parted lips. It was so damned sexy.
“Reno, what...?” Brandi licked her lips and tried to continue, but
apparently couldn’t. She rolled her head from side to side, then
stiffened and cried out.

For a moment he
watched her come. Just knowing he’d driven her to such a loss of
control filled him with deep satisfaction while at the same time,
driving his own desire impossibly higher.

He gave into his
own need then, dropping his head into the crook of her neck. Giving
up the fragile hold he had on his control, he began pistoning even
harder and faster, the primitive search for pleasure dominating his
mind and blocking out all else. When his own release came, it was
explosive and freeing as nothing had ever been before. He groaned
deeply, a long drawn out shudder wracking him as his seed spilled
from his body.

Collapsing on top
of her, he struggled to draw in air. His heart was pounding and his
thinking was fuzzy. God, that had been like nothing he’d ever
experienced before.

For all that he
wanted just to lie there, Reno made himself slide sideways,
relieving Brandi of his weight. She murmured in acknowledgement,
her eyes closed, faint tremors still wracking her. He reached out a
hand and stroked her gently, entranced by the total abandon that
they’d created in each other.

“Bathroom?” He
finally forced his lips to form the single word and she vaguely
gestured with her hand. Not wanting to leave the pleasant cocoon of
feeling that he was wrapped in, he forced himself to stand.

In the bathroom,
he squinted in the harsh light, staring at his reflection in the
mirror. His face was flushed, his hair stood on end from Brandi’s
wild clutching, however it was his eyes that really told the tale.
His wolf stared boldly back at him, challenging, wanting
control.

An icy rush of
reality doused any passion remaining within him. With shaking
hands, he gripped the cold edge of the porcelain sink and braced
his arms while he fought an inner battle. The wolf couldn’t win; it
was too dangerous to be let loose without other Enforcers around to
keep it in check. Dammit, things had been going so well lately he’d
let down his guard, which just went to prove what could happen if
he became complacent about the beast.

He wasn’t sure how
long he stood there. Eventually his wolf conceded and grudgingly
stepped back. Reno murmured approval of its obedience and it
thumped its tail once before subsiding and sinking into sleep. A
sigh of relief escaped his clenched lips. It was a good wolf...once
it remembered its place.

Some Enforcers
hated their wolves, calling them demons or hell-hounds, but Reno
tried to live in peace with his creature. He was firm and demanded
obedience, yet tried to respect the beast as well. After all, they
were stuck with each other and might as well try to co-exist. If
not, he’d end up bitter and haggard from the constant war within.
At least his way, the war was less frequent and tonight’s episode
was more of an anomaly than a constant occurrence. Perhaps he was
even at fault. The creature hadn’t been out for a run in a few
days.

Resolving to head
into the woods that weekend for some back to nature time, he
splashed cold water on his face before glancing in the mirror
again. Wet strands of hair clung to his forehead and beads of water
zigzagged through his stubble before meandering down his neck to
his chest. Grabbing a towel, he dried off, pleased to note that his
eyes were clear again.

Thankful Brandi
hadn’t witnessed his battle—what female wanted a man around that
might suddenly go rogue?—he headed back to the bedroom, thinking
they might have another round. Easing the door open, he slipped
inside and came to a sudden halt, his plans fizzling out. She was
sound asleep.

Reno leaned
against the door frame, once again marvelling at how the moonlight
highlighted her body. A faint flush still stained her cheeks and
her hair curled about her bare shoulders. He could see other marks
on her skin, signs that their passion hadn’t been gentle. Just the
thought had his body stirring and he had to fight the desire to
climb back in bed and rouse her. Swiping his tongue over his lips,
he recalled her taste.

Brandi rolled onto
her side and murmured in her sleep, her hand reaching out for the
blanket. Reluctantly, he stepped forward and pulled it up hiding
her beauty. A small smile graced her lips before they slackened
again in slumber.

Should he stay the
night? They’d barely shared a few dozen words and he knew next to
nothing about her, yet for some reason he was reluctant to leave,
feeling a need to guard her while she slept. However, the battle
he’d waged with his wolf just moments ago reinforced the fact that
he shouldn’t get too attached. He wasn’t suitable material for a
relationship with her or anyone.

After a moment’s
debate, and against his better judgement, he pulled a sheet of
paper from a notebook he found lying on her desk and scribbled his
phone number and the words ‘Call me.’

He never did that.
Brief encounters, one night stands; that was all he had to offer.
The paper crinkled as his hand fisted around it. This was
foolishness. Complete and utter idiocy. He was an Enforcer, dammit.
Shaking his head at his own stupidity, he flattened the page and
placed the note prominently on her desk. Donning his clothes, he
then let himself out and headed back to his temporary home.

Chapter 5

Brandi awoke the
next morning feeling relaxed and happy after having slept more
deeply than she had in years. Stretching, a secret smile spread
over her lips as she recalled why. She, Brandi Johansson, had had a
one night stand with Reno Smith. Just the thought made her giddy
and she allowed herself to giggle like a school girl while giving
herself a hug.

She relaxed and
sank back into the pillows, running one hand lazily down her side.
Naked. God, she never slept naked. The covers brushed over her skin
as she adjusted her position and she wondered why she’d never tried
sleeping in the buff before. It made her feel deliciously sexy and
wicked; a woman of the world. The type of woman who would meet a
man in a bar and take him home. And it hadn’t been just any man. It
had been Reno Smith.

Pushing a stray
curl from her face, she contemplated how the previous evening had
gone. When she’d bumped into Reno, her brain had gone to mush and
she’d hardly been able to string two words together. He hadn’t
seemed to mind though. In fact, he’d actually been...nice. Except
for when he’d dissed her fighting skills, that is. But then again,
he’d only been telling the truth. And once the awkwardness had
passed, she’d actually enjoyed his company. His stories of life as
an Enforcer were both entertaining and fascinating, especially the
parts about his work with the ACS.

When she’d talked
to Tabi later on, she’d only half-heartedly scolded her roommate
for setting her up yet again. And when Tabi had urged her to grab
the opportunity and get it on with Reno... Well, just a glance at
Reno’s handsome face and amazing physique had made her own doubts
easy to dismiss.

All evening she
had felt Reno’s intent gaze as it raked over her body. Whenever
she’d caught him looking at her she was sure he was stripping her
naked in his mind. From anyone else, she might have found that to
be offensive, but with Reno it had seemed right. Her wolf had
revelled in the attention, spurring her onward, encouraging her to
dance more provocatively than normal. When he’d finally stood and
moved towards her like a predator closing in on his prey, her
breath had caught in her throat. He’d ground his hips against hers,
his arousal undeniable. Heat had flared through her and she’d
barely hesitated when he’d suggested leaving.

Wow. Sex with Reno
had been amazing. The brush of his stubble over her skin, the
roughness of his palms cupping her breasts. Feeling him pressing
into her, filling her completely and then stroking deeper and
harder. He’d driven her to heights of passion she’d never thought
possible. In fact, he’d taken her so high that she’d lost complete
control and almost transformed in the middle of the act. It had
been scary, but then she’d climaxed and after that...well...she’d
fallen asleep! All that studying, alcohol, and great sex had
knocked her right out!

That little fact
was rather embarrassing. Wasn’t the guy supposed to fall asleep
while the female wanted to snuggle and talk? She felt her face
flush as she contemplated the fact that Reno might have been
studying her naked body as she slept. Her stomach gave a funny
little flip-flop at the very idea and she wished she had some way
of knowing what he might have been thinking. Yet then again, maybe
it was better not to know!

Rolling over, she
buried her nose into the cool pillow beside her, inhaling deeply to
take in the remnants of his scent. She wasn’t surprised to find the
bed empty. Reno didn’t strike her as the kind to stay around after
the fact. A small hurt twinged in her heart over that, but she
pushed it aside. Tabitha had told her to go for it. That she’d
probably only get one chance with Reno and to take the plunge.
Well, for once she was glad that she’d listened to her roommate.
It’d been worth it. A night like that would live on in her memory
for years.

Reluctant to leave
the bed and abandon her recollections, Brandi sighed and threw back
the covers. Unfamiliar aches afflicted her as she stood and she
winced at the evidence of last night’s passion. She hadn’t been a
virgin, but neither was she that experienced either. A brief affair
with a cadet during her first year—before she’d realized he was an
egotistical jerk out to gather as many notches on his bedpost as he
could—was the sum total of her love life. After that she’d sworn to
dedicate herself to her career, a plan she’d followed until Reno
crossed her path.

A grin passed over
her face as she contemplated exactly
how
he’d crossed her
path. Too bad it wasn’t likely to happen again. Peering in the
mirror over her dresser, she examined her face noting sensitive
pink marks on her skin. Whisker burn no doubt. A part of her would
like to let the world see them, like a flag announcing her
encounter with the oh-so-sexy man, while another part wanted to
hold the experience close to her heart, a cherished memory only she
knew about.

Would Reno ever
think of her, she wondered? Would he remember the girl he’d met in
a college bar and had a bit of wild sex with or would she become
just a dim memory, another one night stand in a list too long to
contemplate? She tried to picture him this morning and a
surprisingly clear image came to mind. He’d be standing in front of
the mirror humming as he shaved and trying to brush his hair into
some semblance of order. Faint scratches on his back and shoulder
would cause him to pause and smile, recalling last night’s pleasure
and the beautiful woman who had put them there.