That was a hunter they brought back. I want you, Jared and Smoke here as a precaution.”
You think they were followed?
“Anything’s possible. I don’t want to leave January or that new cub unprotected.” Mira’s fierce maternal instincts had yet to surface, according to Cleo, and Beck didn’t trust her.
The knob rattled and turned from the other side of the door. January pulled it open. She looked between Anders and Beck, dark brows raised. “Are you coming in?”
Only a few hours had passed since he watched her drive off but a few became too damn many the second Cross alerted him of trouble. He looked her over from head to foot, lingering at her breasts, hips and the vulnerable tips of her bare toes.
Her scent was off, tainted by fear and faded adrenaline. That had to change.
Anders moved restlessly. Beck lifted his gaze back to her face. She watched him intently, the tip of her tongue tracking across her lower lip.
His woman. Finally where he wanted her.
With a low growl, he crossed the threshold. Her eyes widened and she took a step back.
He stalked her halfway across the front room before he spoke. “Are you running from me or leading me somewhere good?”
Her flush deepened. She stopped retreating. “I’m not sure. You look like you want to eat me.”
He could practically taste her honey on his tongue but shook his head. “I do, but no time for that.”
“What is there time for?” She fingered the hem of her shirt, drawing his gaze to the slice of tawny skin visible there.
Behind him, the door banged shut. January glanced past him to Anders. Beck couldn’t read her mind but he had a good idea what she wanted to know.
And he could filter Anders’ thoughts just fine, this close and so centered on the woman they both wanted.
“He wants to learn from you. We have time for a short lesson. Come here.”
She lowered her gaze and closed the gap between them. Satisfaction rolled through him, hardening his body and sharpening his hunger. His winter-wolf was learning her place--with him--and her resistance weakened every minute she gave herself to the pack.
Rounding behind her, he drew her against him. She softened instantly, warm and fluid in his arms. He’d waited a long time for the chance to pull her this close. Letting her go that morning went against his every instinct to lock her down and hold on.
He was pleased with the returns on his gamble. When January needed him, she acknowledged that need instead of running from it. Skimming his lips down the side of her neck, he went to work strengthening that link.
Drawing her scent deep, he gathered her breasts in his hands. The bra she wore shaped her curves gently, bringing her beaded nipples right into his palms. He rolled and squeezed the stiff buds until her ass squirmed against him, her body asking for more.
Anders watched, highly focused on January’s responses. His ears perked at the sounds she made, gasps and whimpers that kept Beck’s cock hard enough to drive nails. He allowed himself the pleasure of her soft ass but nothing more. What he wanted from her would take hours he couldn’t afford to spare. He was already giving too much to his desire as a man, neglecting his duty as an alpha.
He could give her this, at least. “Get your jeans down. We want to see your pussy.”
“I don’t think I can handle both of you. Not after the last few days.” She popped the button anyway. As she lowered the zipper, Anders changed.
January’s hands stilled, her attention on the display of wolf becoming man. Beck drew his tongue along her hairline, gathering her taste. Envy, awe, arousal.
She wanted her own wolf so bad.
He would find a way to give it to her, some bargain he could make, some piece of his soul he could sell.
For now, this. He took over, lowering her zipper and pushing denim and lace off her hips.
“You’ll be able to handle this, baby.” He communicated with Anders through visuals and a moment later, Anders knelt at
1796-1874 Agnes Strickland, 1794-1875 Elizabeth Strickland, Rosalie Kaufman