Chapter 3

I got home, exhausted, and pressed the switch.

The light flickered once, then went out completely. I pressed it again and again, only for the ceiling light not to respond at all.

Cold moonlight spilled into the bedroom. I fell onto the bed and let my mind drift back to what had happened today.

One sentence had extinguished everything. Blake had bent down to pick up the skirt that had fallen to the floor. There was conflict and confusion in his eyes.

After standing there for a long time, he chose to leave.

The sage was still sitting in the glass case on the counter. He hadn’t taken it.

I had been completely wrong. He was a good wolf. I shouldn’t have treated him that way.

Yet, the heat stirred inside my body hadn’t faded. Maybe it was because it had been too long. My body, neglected for far too long, felt like dry land cracked by drought, endlessly craving rain.

“Carter.”

I whispered his name. A sudden, burning desire rose in my chest. I wanted him to kiss me and hold me.

I wanted more.

My hand moved down without restraint.

“Did that wolf fail to satisfy you?”

Behind the door, a he-wolf stood in the shadows. Pale green eyes glinted faintly in the darkness.

He moved too fast. Before I could react, I was pinned beneath him. A strange scent filled my nose and mouth. His hand clamped tightly around my wrist, the force making escape impossible.

“Watching was enough to make me hard,” he said close to my ear. “Madam, you’re responsible for that.”

He used his teeth to tug open the buttons at my collar, exposing a stretch of pale skin at my shoulder hollow.

“Stop! Or I’ll turn you in to the patrol!”

I twisted beneath him, trying to break free.

“I’d advise against that. This afternoon, at the shop, I saw you with that other wolf.” His smile deepened. “I even recorded it.”

My blood ran cold.

My underwear was torn away. His tongue traced slowly over me, his teeth grinding deliberately.

“What do you want? I can give you money—”

“I don’t need your money.” He unhurriedly pulled off his shirt with one hand. A long scar ran from his left shoulder across his broad chest to his right waist.

He thrust his hips hard against my thigh. The massive bulge strained against his pants, swollen and rigid, on the verge of tearing through the fabric.

“Looking forward to it?” He unfastened his belt. His arousal sprang free as he forced my legs apart. “Let me take care of you. I guarantee I’m far better than the one from this afternoon.”

“Don’t—”

He grabbed my ankles, pulled me into position, and drove into me.

A satisfied whimper escaped my control.

The pleasure from flesh colliding surged like electric currents, wave after wave crashing into my foggy mind. The rising climax overwhelmed my senses.

I bit down hard on my lip to keep the sweet sounds from spilling out.

“The wolf from this afternoon doesn’t seem to be the same one as the man in that photo on your nightstand.”

Dazed, I followed his gaze.

In the photo on the nightstand, Carter was smiling at me.

For a brief moment, clarity pierced my clouded mind.

“Mm… Carter… forgive me.”

Tears blurred my vision. Guilt tore at my heart while my body cried out in pleasure, pulling my soul in opposite directions.

“Between me and that guy from earlier, who’s better?”

His thin lips traced downward, kissing my waist, my lower belly, the inside of my thighs. He brushed past my sensitive spots, layering fresh marks over old ones, leaving red impressions that made me shiver.

“Relax.” He let out a low grunt and slapped my backside. “Judging by how good you feel, it’s clearly me, right?”

“You’re the worst I’ve ever had!”

My struggle meant nothing to him, no more than a feather landing in his palm. His short, low laugh echoed in the darkness, sharp with undisguised mockery.

“Your body says otherwise.” He thrust hard. “Or is it better doing this in front of that photo?”

Those pale green eyes reminded me of Carter.

But…

Carter has been dead for a long time.