Still suckling on her ni**les, he increased his tempo on her nub, circling it faster, harder, sliding a finger down into her hot center, then back up. She rocked her body in time with his fingers, grinding down onto his hand. That urged him to stroke vigorously to give her the release she sought.
Her thighs muscles tightened around his waist. Mouth open, panting, she threw her head back. He knew she was close to coming.
Biting down on her flesh, Ren pinched her nub between his fingers. It was enough to push Mahina over the edge. And she came, hard.
With a deep groan, she threw herself forward, burying her face in his neck, her hands streaking over him to find a solid hold. Her fingers found the scabbed-over bullet wound, her nails tearing into the newly formed scab.
Pain exploded through him and he couldn’t stop the gasp that burst from between his lips.
Wide-eyed, Mahina sat up and gazed down at him, her face blanched with worry. “What’s the matter? Did I hurt you?”
Ren didn’t want her to know about his injury. He didn’t want her to worry or to blame herself. “I’m fine.”
“You are not fine, Calder.” Her gaze searched his face then fell to his shoulder. He knew what she was looking at. He could feel the warm trickle of fresh blood on his skin. “Damn it! You’re injured.”
“I’m okay, really.”
She put one hand on his chin and turned his head. The other hand pressed on his shoulder as she leaned down to look at the wound over his lateral muscle. “When did you get this?”
“Doesn’t matter.”
Her eyes narrowed, and he could see the comprehension dawning in them. “The bullet grazed you when you took me to the ground.”
He didn’t say anything, but kept her gaze. He couldn’t lie to her, but he also still couldn’t admit it.
Shaking her head, she rolled off him, then pushed to her feet. “You should’ve told me.”
Sighing, he sat up. “Why? So you could blame yourself?”
“Well, it is my fault.” She glared down at him. “If I hadn’t charged at him. If I’d only seen the damn gun.”
Ren pushed to a stand. He wanted to touch her, soothe her somehow, but he knew she’d resent it. “Mahina, it’s part of the job. We were in a volatile situation where anyone could’ve gotten shot.”
“Yeah—it was because of my mistake that you got shot saving my butt.”
“And I’d do it again without pause. This is nothing.” He touched his injury to make his point. “Only trace amounts of silver entered my system. It’ll heal in a few weeks. It’s a small price to pay for your safety.”
“Nobody should have to pay for my carelessness. Especially not you.”
“Why not me?” He took a step toward her.
Her eyes narrowed, and he could see she was fighting the urge to flee.
“You know it’s okay to admit you have feelings for me. There’s no one around to hear you.” He spread his arms out toward the empty night sky.
“We’re done.” She turned on her heel. “I’m going back to the car.”
He watched as she stepped into the copse of trees situated between them and the main road. She was so stubborn it nearly drove him crazy. Actually, in fact, it did drive him mad. He just wanted to toss her over his shoulder and take her somewhere so they could finish dealing with the simmering passion between them. Having sex would either sate both of them and they could move on with their lives or it would change everything. Maybe that was what Mahina was afraid of—the everything part.
He didn’t care. It was going to be taken care of one way or another tonight. He refused to go another day, or minute, thinking about what could be between them. He’d barely had a taste while he brought her to cl**ax, and he wanted, no, demanded more.
Jaw clenched, Ren followed her into the trees, determined to claim her as his once and for all.
Chapter Five
Mahina was still vibrating from anger and pent-up desire when she heard Ren walking behind her, following her. Although she wanted to stop and let him gather her into his arms, she refused to turn around. A relationship between them was impractical. There were too many factors at play against them. When they worked together, she was his superior. They were both dominant lycans, both inside and outside the pack. That dynamic never worked out. And she couldn’t have Ren risk his life again for her. She had no doubt he would in an instant.
Carefully she stepped over sharp rocks and broken branches. Her human feet weren’t as tough as her wolf ones. But she refused to shift and run back to the car. It would just entice Ren to chase her again. She’d walk even if it meant cut soles and scratched calves.
She’d gotten about halfway to the road when she felt the first drops of moisture peppering her skin. It was cool yet refreshing and she shivered from the top of her head to the bottoms of her feet. There was something sensual, primal even, about being na**d in the rain. It was then that Ren’s masculine scent wafted to her nostrils on a puff of fresh air. It was as if he was teasing and taunting her.
Straightening her shoulders, she decided she would not be enticed any longer. Still, the feel of his fingers on her and in her pulsed over her skin. A violent quiver shook her body when she thought about what he had done to her, and what she had wanted him to do. Ren possessed a powerful form and she knew from one look at the length of him, he would be a passionate and tireless lover.
She shook her head clear of the erotic images staking claim on her mind. Only a few more yards to go before she could get dressed, jump into her car and drive home, safely, with her life intact. She feared making love with Ren would open a well of emotions, feelings she didn’t want to deal with, ever. It was easier to keep them tightly locked inside her head and heart. Releasing them would only complicate her life.
She’d gone this long without the complications a serious relationship would bring. Because she knew getting involved with Ren could be nothing but serious. He was that type of man—he made her body flare and her heart flutter; she knew it could never be simple with him. It could never just be sex between consenting adults. It would definitely end up being so much more than that. And she wasn’t sure if she was ready for what that meant.
As Mahina edged closer to the road, the woods thinned and the rain came down harder and faster. She could see the road through the last remaining trees. No longer protected by the canopy of leaves, she felt the cool fat drops of liquid soak her hair.
While she walked out from beneath the trees and into the ditch along the side of the road, she had to wipe away the wet strands of hair sticking to her forehead and cheeks. A few feet from her car, she thought maybe she could actually get out of here. But she could still feel Ren’s presence behind her. She was curious why he hadn’t said or done anything thus far. Maybe he’d given up.
Curiosity got the better of her and she turned just as she reached her car. He was right there behind her, invading her space. She could feel the warmth of his body, and he hadn’t even touched her. His gaze was fierce. Desire radiated up and down her inner thighs.
“I can’t let you go, Mahina.”
She was powerless to move. He’d only have to touch her and she’d be lost to him. Relief surged over her that he wouldn’t let her go. She’d been afraid that he would. That the feelings she thought he had for her weren’t really that strong. She thanked God she’d been wrong.
Before she could speak, he yanked her to him, pressing her body to his and capturing her mouth. The kiss was hot and fierce, unquenchable even by the rain that cascaded in rivulets over their touching bodies. She lost all reason as Ren dipped and swept his tongue over her lips and into her mouth, making love to her with his kiss.
A growl sounded deep in his throat as she streaked her hands over his chest, down his sides to cup the rock-hard cheeks of his buttocks. She pulled him closer, reveling in the way his erection dug into her belly. She wanted him inside her, deep and penetrating.
Pressing kisses to her chin and neck, Ren edged her onto the car. The backs of her knees hit the front fender. There was nowhere to go but onto her back.
He licked the rain from her neck just below her ear. “You’re mine, Mahina. No one will ever claim you like I will.”
Wrapping her hand in his wet hair, she turned his head to hers. “Yeah, yeah, yeah. Again you talk way too much.” She crushed her mouth to his and possessed him completely.
Frantic for her, Ren pressed her down onto the hood of her car and traveled her body with his mouth. He latched on to one breast, teasing the nipple with his tongue and teeth. Moaning, she pulled on his hair, wanting him to take more of her. He couldn’t fill her fast enough.
She should’ve been cold with the chilly rain battering her skin and the cool metal at her back, but somehow she didn’t feel anything but the inner furnace of her own body pulsing with desire and Ren’s heat blanketing her.
“Hurry,” she said, unsure, never having begged before. Never wanting to with any man before. It was both humbling and exhilarating at the same time.
Ren heeded her words. Still suckling at her br**sts, he let his hands travel down her legs. When he reached her calves, he gripped them and, standing, spread her legs wide, positioning himself between them.
He looked like a wild man hovering above her with the rain slicking his black hair onto his forehead and making his golden skin sparkle from the pearls of water rolling down his chest. Growling low in his throat again, he slid her down the hood of the car, pulling her sex to his. Bending her legs back, he positioned himself at her opening and with one sudden thrust, he buried himself inside her quivering flesh.
She cried out as he entered her. He filled her utterly and she had to catch her breath as he started to move inside. Gripping her legs tightly, he slid out slowly then thrust back in, gaining in rhythm. After a few more controlled thrusts, he was slamming into her wildly, beads of sweat mingling with the droplets of rain.
Feeling her grip slipping, Mahina reached up and covered his hands on her legs. She needed to touch him even if it was just on his fingers. Every plunge inside her drove her near the edge of delirium. An intense, brutal orgasm was building inside. She could already feel its explosive power deep within her belly, swirling, boiling, waiting to erupt and send her spiraling out of control.