CHAPTER 5: Calder Pov

I was in the kitchen, water bottle in hand, when I heard it: footsteps. On my porch. My body went instantly alert.

Then came a knock—two distinct raps. From the sound, I could guess the person was a woman.

I crossed to the door and yanked it open. And there she was.

Maren Cole.

Standing on my porch in an oversized trench coat, belted tight at the waist. Her hair was down, loose waves falling past her shoulders. She was wearing makeup—not much, but enough that her lips looked fuller, darker, and her eyes wider.

She looked nervous. Like a frightened rabbit.

“Can I help you?” I drawled. What did she intend to do coming here?

She opened her mouth. Closed it. Tried again.

“I came to visit you.”

“Visit me?”

Her hands went to the belt of her coat. And she untied it. The fabric fell open. My brain short-circuited.

She was wearing lingerie. Black lace that barely covered her body. Her breasts were pushed up, nipples visible through the sheer fabric. The bottoms were just as transparent, showing me the curve of her hips, and the shadow between her thighs.

Holy shit.

“Maren—”

“Don’t talk.” Her voice shook, but she stepped inside. She closed the door behind her. “I… I want to have sex with you.”

My wolf snarled, demanding.

Take her.

If anyone had told me ‘fat Maren Cole’ from high school would be standing at my doorstep wearing sheer lingerie, I would have killed that person on the spot for uttering such blasphemy. But seeing her now, my body switched to instant lust mode.

I closed the distance between us. Cupped her face in my hands. Her skin was soft. Warm. Her pulse hammered against my palm.

“You want me to fuck you?” I asked, tracing my hand over her neck as I lifted her jaw toward me.

She nodded.

I kissed her, sucking on her lip. She grabbed my head, her tongue circling my mouth. Her mouth tasted of bourbon. She must have been drinking.

My hands slid into her hair, tilting her head back so I could deepen the kiss. She gasped against my mouth, her breath hot on my face. She was damn near driving me crazy.

Her hands fisted In my shirt, pulling me closer.

I lifted her, my mouth still latched to hers, and walked over to the sofa, putting her down roughly. My body caged hers. I could feel the softness of her body pressed against me. Her breasts. Her hips. The heat radiating off her skin.

My hand slid down her side. Over the lace. Under it.

She whimpered when my fingers found her inner thigh.

“Your pussy is dripping for me,” I said against her mouth.

She whimpered again.

My fingers slid higher. The scent of her arousal hit me like a drug, and my wolf roared approval.

I pushed one finger inside her.

She moaned, her head falling back against the cushions.

“Fuck,” I breathed. She was tight. Hot. Clenching around my finger. I added another.

Her hips rocked against my hand. I worked her slowly at first, then faster, curling my fingers until I found that spot that made her cry out.

“Rhys—”

My hand froze.

I pulled back, staring at her.

“What did you just call me?”

Her eyes flew open, confusion clouding them.

“I said—” She froze. Her gaze locked onto mine. The look on her face changed from confusion to shock.

“Oh my God. You’re Calder.”

“What about it?” What was this bitch up to? “Were you expecting someone else?” It dawned on me then. “You came here for my brother.”

Her face drained of color.

“No. No, I—”

She shoved at my chest. Hard.

I let her push me back.

She stumbled away from me, her hands shaking as she desperately tried to close her coat.

“This was a mistake,” she said, her voice breaking. “This wasn’t supposed to happen.”

“Are you trying to say I’m not desirable?” I stepped toward her. “Even if you came for my brother, I am still a better option.”

She didn’t answer.

My jaw clenched.

“Answer me, Maren.”

“No!” The word burst out of her. “I don’t want to have sex with you. Thinking about it disgusts me. I can’t believe I touched you.”

The words landed like a punch. My wolf snarled, furious.

“That’s a lie,” She shrank back.

“You’re scaring me.”

I stopped. She was terrified. What the hell was happening? This had never happened to me before. How could a human woman reject me?

It wasn’t possible. Women throw themselves at me. They can’t resist my sexual pull.

But she was standing here telling me she didn’t want me.

I reached for her again.

She slapped my hand away.

“Go away,” she said, her voice shaking. “Or I’ll call the police.”

I laughed. I couldn’t help it.

“The police can’t do anything to me.”

Human cops were useless against me. But there were shifters in the force, and I didn’t want to draw attention to myself.

I stepped back.

Raised my hands in surrender.

“Fine. You can go.”

She took off like a frightened mouse, running out the door. I heard her footsteps racing across the yard, then the opening and slamming of her door.

I stood there in my living room.

My wolf raging in my chest.

She’s going to beg to crawl into my bed.

Before this summer is over, Maren Cole is going to be begging for my dick.