I hate how there are no secrets in this friendship.
“Don’t blame me for needing a little fun in my life, grandpa,” I quip as I turn toward my house. “While I go ‘blow off some steam,’ you go ahead and enjoy re-reading your favorite copy of Popular Mechanics before you drink Earl Grey and go to bed before nine.”“I don’t even like Earl Grey!” he calls after me.His laughter follows me up the two shallow steps to my front door, then he adds, “Be safe out there.”“I will,” I call back, then disappear inside.My cabin isn’t much. Most days, I don’t even feel like it’s really mine. It was my parents’ place, and I inherited it when they died. Lived here with a caretaker through my youth, then alone once I was old enough.I’m always alone.I grab a quick shower since I haven’t had one today, dry off and wrap the towel around my body, then brush out my long dark hair. No use trying to style it when I’m going to shift to get to town. Good thing the “windblown waves” look is popular.My closet creaks like a dying deer as I throw open the door, and I glare at the old metal hinges for a moment before stomping off to my kitchen for the WD-40. I oil up those bad boys and give the door a few test swings. I’ve been considering replacing the whole thing since the door’s a flimsy piece of shit with some warping on the bottom. Maybe Grady would let me borrow his truck for a trip to Home Depot.Not a problem for tonight though. Tonight, I’m on the prowl.I flip through hangers for the perfect fuck me dress. I’m not big on dresses; it’s not really my aesthetic. I like soft cotton, tight jeans, and tank tops. But guys like dresses, especially when they’re short, tight, and leave very little to the imagination.The number one rule of hunting—other than “don’t fall on your face”—is to know your prey.I pick out a short, strapless red number and shove it in my pack, then find a pair of black kitten heels tucked into the very back of the closet. I add a tube of mascara, an eyeliner pencil, and red lipstick to my pack, then take one last look around before I head out.Where the gravel roads meet the wilds on the edge of the village, I slip the pack over my shoulders and shift. The straps hung off my back when I was in human form, but they fit snugly around my broad wolf’s torso. After shaking out my fur a little, I sprint off into the darkness, giving myself over to the power in my legs.Nothing beats being in wolf form as I race through the open plains flanked by snow-capped mountains. Cool wind ruffles my fur as my body heats up, and the pounding of my paws on the dirt creates a steady rhythm—there’s a beauty in it that has no match in human form.The nearest town to North Pack lands is a dinky, one stoplight kind of place that takes a while to reach. I’m not even sure I know what the place is called, and frankly, I don’t care. If I go into this particular town, I’m going for one reason and one reason only.I see the lights before I smell the humanity, and I come to a halt behind an old horse barn to shift and dress. The red tube dress fits my body like a second skin, emphasizing my height and my lithe curves. I swipe on my makeup as I squint into a tiny compact by the light of the stars, but I’ve done it enough times before that muscle memory takes over.Once I’m all dolled up, I leave my pack on the ground behind the barn, hook my finger through the straps on my heels, and walk into town.The main street is quaint. Two strips of shops line either side of the road in a rustic log cabin kind of architecture. The sidewalks hold large barrel planters of colorful flowers, and the streetlights are decorative with soft glowing globes. I pause next to a planter and use the rim to balance as I tug on my heels, then continue to the bar area at the end of the road.Being such a small place, there are only three bars to choose from, and none of them have the most desirable clientele. I’m not picky though. I decided a long time ago not to fuck around with wolves from my pack. It just makes shit messy later on when mate bonds form. I’m not interested in being the bitch that fucked someone’s soulmate.I head for the better of the three bars—a little hole in the wall called Keggers that tends to have a younger crowd and a comfortable atmosphere for women. The bartender-slash-owner is a woman named Barb who looks like she could kick even Ridge’s ass, so creepy dudes don’t last very long in her establishment.The party’s well underway when I arrive. The place is packed to the rafters, dim and smoky. An auto-tuned dubstep song blasts from the sound system over the noise of chatting, laughter, and clinking glasses. I wind my way through the high top tables dotting the middle of the floor and find an empty chair at the long dark wooden bar.Barb sidles up to me, tossing a stained white rag over her shoulder. She’s built like a semi with a cute face, dark hair buzzed short, and shrewd brown eyes that miss nothing. “What’ll it be?”“Gin and tonic. Top shelf,” I add.Barb winks at me. “You got it, sis.”While she slaps my drink together, I take a moment to peruse the wares. Lots of groups here tonight: a few college-age kids looking for a good time; a group of construction workers in dusty boots and Carhartt jackets; a couple tables holding out-of-towners. I can always tell when they aren’t from around here. They have a different smell, for one thing. And they always look confused, like they aren’t clear on how they ended up in the middle of nowhere Montana. This state could swallow you, if you let it.Barb slides my glass across the smooth, sticky bar in front of me then bustles off to the next customer. She’ll start me a tab. She always does.I sip my gin and tonic slowly, scanning the room with my best “bored but approachable” look. It’s never let me down before, and this time is no different.One of the construction workers catches my eye and raises his glass in a toast to me. He’s not exactly a male model, but he’s cute enough. Boots muddy from the worksite, a plaid shirt peeking out from beneath the open khaki jacket. He’s deeply tanned, a little aged from his work in the sun, but his lips are nice.I raise my glass too, returning his gesture.He says something to his buddies and grins, then leaves the table to come join me.“Can’t help but see that you’re all alone,” he drawls, leaning an elbow on the bar between me and the occupied chair beside me.“Noticed that, did you?” I cock my head, laying on the teasing in my tone. I know the buttons to push. The secret looks to use. The way to pitch my words so that he knows I’m interested.I came here looking to blow off some steam, and this guy will do just fine.“Can’t imagine why a woman as beautiful as you would be alone on a night like this,” the man says, his gaze sweeping my face. “What’s your name, sugar?”Before I can decide whether to give him one of my patented fake names or just play coy, the hair on the back of my neck stands up. Goosebumps race over my skin a split second before a cool breeze rushes through the bar from the open door.I glance over at the newcomer and my heart ceases beating.He takes up the entire doorwa
Kian.The name rolls around in my head. It’s just as magnetic, just as relentlessly sexy as the man himself.His luscious lips are still within inches of my hand, and I have this wild urge to slide my finger between them. I want to feel his mouth on me and his tongue wet against my skin. Just the idea sends another pulse of need through my core. I’m already turned on, and all he’s said is his name.I came out tonight hoping to get laid by someone passably attractive, and now I’m going to walk out of this bar with sex incarnate. When did I start getting such good luck?It’s almost enough to make up for the fact I fell on my face during the hunt.“Pleasure to meet you,” I say, peeling my fingers away from Kian’s to pick up the new glass Barb has set next to my empty one. My fingertips damn near seem to spark from his touch.“No, I think the pleasure’s mine.” Kian’s gaze sweeps over my body. He licks his lips, his eyes bright as he takes in the low-slung dress barely containing my breast
A back hallway leads to restrooms and an alley exit, cut off from the bustle of the bar by a sharp right-hand turn that takes the corridor behind the kitchen. My high heels tap loudly on the shiny concrete floors, under a song heavy with bass as it pipes from the stereo anchored near the ceiling.I don’t even make it halfway down the hall before I feel his heat behind me. The delectable scent of him surrounds me in the split second before a strong arm catches me around the waist and yanks me back.For a moment, I’m airborne. Kian whips me off my feet like I weigh nothing, and despite my height, maybe I don’t weigh anything to a man his size.He yanks me against his hard body, one hand curling around my hip while the other fists in my hair. There’s a wild look in his eye that borders the line between lust and hunger. The way he dominates me, towering over me all brawn and heat and that intoxicating whiskey smoke…Fuck, I’m lost.Heat pools between my legs. I rock my hips against his an
I sink down to my knees in front of Kian, ignoring the way the rough pavement digs into my skin. His eyes darken as he stares down at me, and he widens his stance a bit to bring his crotch closer to my eye-level. I keep looking up, holding his gaze as I reach for the waistband of his pants and unbutton them. I drag the zipper down, and I can already feel how fucking hard he is.He’s going commando just like I am—it’s a common shifter habit—and his heavy cock practically leaps into my hand, the velvety flesh hot and hard against my palm. I fist him, still watching his face as I dart my tongue out and run it over the tip of his crown. He’s thick and long, and I want to look at his cock, to fucking study it while I drag my tongue up and down his length.But right now, I want to see his expression more.I’m entranced by the way his jaw clenches, his nostrils flaring as he sucks in a sharp breath. It’s shadowy and dark in the alley, but I can still see his eyes blazing, almost like there’s
We barely make it back to the hotel room Kian is staying in.The town is small enough that it’s in walking distance from the bar, but we keep getting held up as we stop to kiss and grope at each other like horny teenagers. The only thing keeping me from dragging him into another alley and demanding he fuck me right there is the fact that I want more room to maneuver. I want to be able to see him naked—every single damn inch of him—and that’s harder to accomplish in a dingy alley than it is in a hotel room with a door.The door in question almost comes off its hinges when we burst into the hotel room like a hurricane, and Kian slams it shut with so much force that I swear I hear the wood crack. But the integrity of a hotel room door is the furthest thing from my mind now that I’ve got what I want.Kian. Alone.We crash through the room in a chaotic tangle of limbs, running into walls and practically knocking over a dresser as our hands roam hungrily over each other’s bodies, lips locke
Kian waits, giving me a chance to master myself, and when he can see that the edge of tension has left my body, he nods in satisfaction. “You good?”I nod, the gesture tiny with his hand still wrapped around my neck. He loosens his grip just a little as a devastating smile spreads across his lips.“Good,” he murmurs.Then he drags his cock out of me, withdrawing almost entirely before slamming back inside.I almost scream again, my entire body tensing up as all the pleasure I thought I had gotten a handle on comes rushing back through me in an uncontrollable torment.Kian chuckles deeply, giving me another second to gather myself before he draws out and thrusts again. But then he stops waiting. He starts to fuck me like he means it, setting a deep, punishing pace that has me biting down on my bottom lip so hard I taste blood.Fuck. I’m gonna come.I can’t stop it. I can’t hold it back. Not with his cock filling me so perfectly every time he drives into me. Not with his muscled body str
I grin at my reflection in the mirror, at the dazed green eyes and flushed cheeks and messy dark hair of the woman staring back at me. Then I wipe up the sticky mess between my legs and return to the bedroom, flicking on the light as I enter.Kian is stretched out on the bed with one arm propped behind his head, completely naked. Even in this shitty lighting, he looks gorgeous. His skin is a dark tan color, and the tattoos that arc over his flesh are intricate and beautiful. His cock still hasn’t completely softened, and I let myself stare at it for a moment as Kian stares at me.He seems completely unbothered by me ogling him like a piece of meat, probably because he’s running his hungry gaze over me in pretty much the exact same way. I like the feeling of his attention on me, the way I can feel his gaze tracking up and down my form.I saunter back into the room and crawl onto the bed, but instead of lying down next to him, I crawl up to straddle him, resting my knees on either side
A rush of emotions surge in my chest, matching the flood of pleasure racing through my veins, and combined, it’s all too much. I bury my fingers in his hair and buck beneath him as white-hot pleasure erupts inside me.He lets out a deep groan, pounding into me before burying himself to the hilt. His face drops to my shoulder, and he bites down on the spot low on my neck, sending another jolt of sensation shooting through me.“Mine,” he grinds out, and the word sounds like it comes from the depths of his fucking soul.His.Mine.He knows it too. He felt the same thing I did.Our sweat-slicked skin sticks together as he rests on top of me for a moment, then he slowly pulls out and collapses to the mattress next to me. Breathing hard, I stare at a crack in the ceiling, trying to focus on slowing my heartbeat and getting control of my breaths. Every part of me aches in all the best ways, and that transcendental orgasm still quivers through me in tiny aftershocks.I had no idea sex could b