Dual Embrace: 3 (Shadowpeak Wolves) (8 page)

She opened her mouth but he laid a single finger over her lips. “Dusty, let it be. We’re both tired. Roll over onto your stomach. I’m going to massage your leg before you go to sleep.”

Her lips parted again and he brushed his finger over her mouth. “No arguments,” he stated firmly. “I’ll get some oil.”

Letting out a humph, she did as he ordered.

But only because a massage sounds good. Not because I crave his touch.

By the time he returned she was on the bed, her face buried in a pillow. Cain pushed her legs apart without a word, his touch firm but not painful as he rubbed oil into her legs. Dusty bit her lip to hold back a whimper of pleasure as he ran his hands up her thighs.

Heat built. Nerves tingled. She tried to hold herself rigid. Cream coated her folds and Dusty knew his heightened senses would easily pick up on her need.

But his touch never wandered up, never moved away from her injured thigh and she found herself relaxing. The more she let go, the more she enjoyed the massage. His touch still stirred her, but it also brought relief to her aching muscles.

Slowly, she drifted off to sleep.

Dusty raced through the trees, her senses on high alert. She never knew where he would be or when he would appear. Suddenly he dropped silently from above. She came to a crashing halt as he crouched before her. Moonlight glinted off his mirthless smile.

“Ahh, Dusty, when will you learn?”

She turned, sprinting, praying she could outrun him. A deep howl sang through the air, sending chills down her spine. Air sawed in and out of her aching lungs as she pushed herself harder, faster. She didn’t notice branches scratching her skin, the way her muscles burned, the sharp pain in her side. She simply had to keep going. He was out here, somewhere, hunting her.

Blind panic threatened to suffocate her but she pushed it back. She couldn’t afford to stumble.

Pain.

Dusty fell as a rope tightened around her neck, cutting off her air. Thrashing, she desperately tried to free herself, bringing her hands up to claw at her neck.

Her wolf snarled, wanting free, but she couldn’t change. If she changed she’d be breaking the rules, and she didn’t want to think about the consequences of that.

Something wet covered her fingers. The metallic scent of blood wafted through the air. Black surrounded the edges of her vision as her lungs screamed for air. This was it. He was finally going to kill her.

“Useless,” he muttered. Abruptly he released her, shoving her away. Petrified, she rolled over to find him looming over her, smiling.

“Run,” he whispered.

“Dusty, Dusty, wake up.”

“No, no, no.”

“Sweetheart, wake up. Now.” The voice brooked no argument and her mind snapped into consciousness.

Still gasping for breath, Dusty sat up and searched wildly for the threat, ready to fight him off. She pulled her hand from her neck, balling it into a fist.

“Where? What?”

She looked up to find Cain standing beside her bed, his arms held out as if to show how harmless he was.

Yeah, right.

On first glance he looked calm and relaxed, yet she sensed the tightly coiled tension in his body, ready to snap out.

Dusty took a deep breath, attempting to slow her jackhammering heart.

“I’m here. You’re safe, Dusty. You’re at my place, in my spare bedroom. It was just a nightmare.”

“I know that.”

She wasn’t a fool. Cooper had killed Zachary, their old Alpha. But that didn’t stop the bastard from haunting her.

“I’m going to sit down next to you, all right?”

She nodded and he moved slowly, settling himself so he was facing her on the bed.

“What was your nightmare about?” Lines formed around his eyes as he peered at her in concern.

“Nothing.”

“You were screaming.”

She shrugged.

Cain sighed. “Dusty.”

“What?”

Disappointment crossed his face before he stood and turned. Sitting up, she grabbed his hand.

“Don’t go,” she pleaded.

He turned to face her.

“I just— I don’t want to be alone right now. I don’t want to talk, but I don’t want to be alone.” She held her breath, waiting for his reply. It was incredibly hard for her to ask this, to show weakness.

He brushed his thumb over her knuckles.

“Scoot over.”

She slid across the bed. Cain lay on top of the covers. Rolling onto her side, Dusty shuffled back until her bottom was cradled by his groin. Cain spread his hand through her hair and massaged her head, making her groan in pleasure.

“Go to sleep,” he whispered. She shivered as heat bathed her ear. She moved restlessly and he draped his arm over her, grazing her breasts.

Longing grew into need.

Dusty closed her eyes, attempting to sleep. But with her eyes shut, her other senses kicked in. His hot skin brushing against hers, his scent bathing the air, the hard and heavy feel of his erection nestled against her bottom.

Resistance melted. Desire rose.

Arousal rolled through her body. Endless. A rush to her head so intense she could barely breathe. She couldn’t stand it. Could no longer resist him. It was hard to believe she’d ever wanted to.

Lord knew, she was no saint and Cain would tempt angels to fall.

Dusty rolled onto her back and stared at his mouth. He opened his eyes. She licked her lips, tempting him deliberately. Reaching up, she drew his face down toward her. When his lips brushed hers, she sighed and opened her mouth, slipping her tongue out to bathe his lips.

“I want you.”

He raised his eyebrows.

“Right now.”

“Why now?” he whispered against her mouth.

“I can’t deny it anymore. I want you so bad I can barely breathe. Fuck me, Cain.” Having him in her bed was delicious torture. He frowned. He rested his hand on her hip, branding her skin.

“You don’t want me?” she asked.

His lips curled. “I always want you and you know it. I don’t want a repeat of last time. I told myself that the next time we slept together there would be no regrets.”

“Oh, confident there would be a next time, were you?”

He slid his hand around to her bottom, squeezing. “We both know that short of death, nothing was going to keep me away from you forever.”

“I’m surprised you haven’t made a move before now.” Part of her was relieved he’d given her space but another part was disappointed. And angry, she realized. She’d wanted him to fight for her, for them. For her to be important to him.

He cupped her breast. Her breath caught on a hitch then she sighed as he flicked her nipple with his thumb.

“I would have. But you had enough to deal with. It wasn’t the right time.”

“So what’s wrong with now? Here I am, offering myself, and you’re hesitating.” Doubt flickered. Maybe he didn’t want her anymore. “You know, if you’ve changed your mind, just say so.”

Whipping back the covers, he rolled until his legs rested on either side of hers, trapping her while keeping his weight off her thigh. His stiff cock pressed against her pussy, making her gasp.

“Do you feel that? I live with that constantly. It never goes down. My need for you never goes away. I haven’t changed my mind and well you know it. You are mine, Dusty. But I told myself that I wouldn’t sleep with you again until you were ready to admit that you belong with me. Are you ready for that now?”

Dear God, a big part of her wanted to say yes.

But…

What if he changed his mind when he learned her secrets? If she was mated to him she couldn’t bear to have him turn away from her. Would he want her no matter what? Could she open herself up completely to him?

“I want more than sex from you, Dusty. I want forever.”

She sighed. “I’m tired of running. I can’t do it anymore. I was at Samson’s last night, trying to ignore what I feel for you. Hiding like a coward because I wanted you so badly that if I hadn’t left the estate I’d have been knocking on your door.”

“So why didn’t you?”

“Because I’m a fool. And I’m scared,” she spat the word out as though it was dirty.

“Of what? Of me?” he asked, shocked.

“Of how much I care about you. A few weeks ago I thought I wanted my life to remain exactly as it was. My job was everything, my life. I thought if I let you in that you would try to change me, make me give up being an enforcer.”

“You really think I would do that to you? Dusty, I don’t want to change you. I would never force you to give up something you love.”

“Well, it doesn’t matter now, does it? I’m not an enforcer anymore.”

He frowned. “So if you’d never been injured would we still be here now?”

She thought for a long moment. “Yes. Eventually. It would have taken me a lot longer. I have nothing but time to think now. To want you.” She ran her hand over his chest. “You don’t have to hold back. Please, don’t punish us both.”

“It’s not meant to be a punishment.”

“It feels like it. Like blackmail.”

He groaned, shaking his head. “I didn’t mean it like that. I just, I want you to know this is more than just sex. I am not going to let you fuck me and leave.”

“I know. If I promise not to run, to still be here tomorrow, will you sleep with me?”

“You won’t run,” he repeated.

“No. I won’t run.”

He looked at her intently then dropped his head, almost in defeat. Concern stirred within her before his head snapped back up, arousal darkening his eyes.

“Woman, you snap my control like no other.” Leaning down, he nipped at her lips then licked them. Her breathing quickened.

“Good. I don’t want to be like any of those other sluts you’ve brought back here.”

He rolled, taking them to their sides.

“There have been no other women in this house.”

She stilled, looking at him incredulously.

“Really?”

He nodded, tugging at her t-shirt. She sat up and pulled it off.

“Oh yeah,” he breathed. “No one but you, Dusty.”

Boy, if she wasn’t already horny as hell she would be after learning that.

His gaze was intense as he stared at her.

Undoing the top button of his jeans, Dusty stretched her hand under the denim to grab his cock, pumping. She grinned wickedly at his indrawn breath.

“Dusty, honey.” His breath hitched as she rubbed her thumb over the head. “I’m not going to last if you do that.”

She licked her lips and tugged at his clothes. “I don’t want you to last.”

He grabbed her hands, holding them still. Before she could protest, he stood, stripping, and what he revealed stole her breath. He was glorious. Thick with muscle, tall and broad-shouldered. His dark skin gleamed in the moonlight. His chest was smooth, his stomach ripped. He stood still, letting her look her fill. There wasn’t an inch of him that wasn’t pure decadence.

Her gaze roamed down to where his shaft stood heavy and thick.

“Oh yeah,” she crooned in appreciation, looking up as he chuckled.

“Like what you see, sweetheart?” he asked huskily.

She nodded.

“Lick me,” he ordered. Dusty shivered at his gruff demand, then she ran her tongue over the bulbous head, lapping at him.

“Good, very good,” he praised her.

“I don’t like being given orders, Cain,” she warned, even though she’d already obeyed him without question.

White teeth shone. “If I order you around outside the bedroom, I have no doubt you’ll set me on my ass. But in here, you’ll do what I say, and there will be nothing but pleasure. Yours and mine. Lie back and show me your pussy.”

“What?” She gaped at him in shock.

“Lie back and spread your legs.”

“I don’t think so, mister,” she sputtered, ignoring the urges of her body to do exactly what he’d said.

He kissed her neck, making her shiver and arch.

“Don’t you want to come? To have my cock stroke you to release? To have your body sing with pleasure?”

Even his voice stirred her. Damn him. He moved his mouth to her nipple and rasped his teeth over it. “Lie back.”

Dusty lay on her back.

“Spread those sexy legs for me.”

Slowly she drew her thighs apart, her breath hitching as he knelt at the base of the bed and stared at her bare pussy.

“So beautiful. Do you know how absolutely gorgeous you are?”

Ridiculously, she blushed. She’d been told how attractive she was before. Many times. But hearing it from Cain made her feel warm, soft.

“Spread your lips. Show me those pretty pink folds.”

“Cain,” she protested.

“It’s okay. This is all about pleasure.” He stared up into her eyes until she found herself moving her hands down to her mound, parting herself. His gaze moved downward and he drew in a deep breath before sighing.