Hunger of the Heart (Wolves of Ravenwillow Book 1) (17 page)

Gasping at the feel of her hot depths, he moved one of his clenching hands from the bedspread to cover her dewy clit. Instantly he felt her passage clench and flutter around him as he awakened more need within her. Within seconds her soft cries of need began filling his ears, her body growing more relaxed.

“Eric…” she moaned softly, her soft body writhing beneath him restlessly. “Please move.”

Pressing his forehead against hers, sweat beaded down his brow as he slowly pulled from her tight body only for his hips to slowly surge back against her. He had to have more of her. With a hissing breath, he lowered his mouth to her arching neck. His lips covered her flushed skin, kissing, licking and nipping. Each action caused her to flex around him like a fist.

“Next time I promise to be better.” He vowed against her neck. Ignoring the way she stiffened beneath him at his words, he began to move urgently into her. Sliding his hands down to her hips, his fingers dug into the curvy flesh there, no doubt leaving marks upon her pale skin.

If he’d known when he’d first met Rebecca that having her in his bed would be this glorious, he would have jumped her the first day; human or not. Over and over he drove into her. Each moan and cry that she tried to prevent from escaping her lips was like music to his ears. Every time he pulled from her, his hands on her hips would clench tighter before jerking her to meet his next driving thrust.

With his heart pounding in his ears and his wolf fighting to break free of his precarious hold on it, he felt his climax drawing closer and closer with every thrust inside her. Arching up against his thrusting hips, Rebecca cried out as she was thrown into a second climax. With her body tightening further around him, his balls tightened and pain shot through him as he thrusted one last time into her. Burying himself to the hilt, he made her take all of him, so that there was no doubt that
he
had taken her and that she was now
his.

He shuttered, clenching his aching fangs as his seed shot into her. He’d never known it could be like this before and now that he had experienced this; he’d never let her go. Strength sapped from him, he debated whether he should move from the welcoming heat of her or remain buried in her until he was ready to have her again. He scoffed silently within his mind. Like there was any question of whether he’d be having her again after this. She’d be lucky if he let her wear clothes or ever leave his bed again. Gazing down at her, he smirked to see that her eyes were closed and her chest rising and falling with heavy pants.

Pushing up on his hands he was just about to pull free of her, he gasped in near pain as his chest began to ache as nothing he’d ever felt. Stealing his breath from him, his chest—his heart felt like a fire had been lit within it. Lowering his head, he reached for his wolf. He was surprised to find that his wolf as in a mad frenzy. What was happening to draw this kind of response from him? Pressing a hand to his chest, his eyes snapped open when he felt heat radiate from his heart.

Looking down, nothing could have prepared him for the shock that shot through him at what he saw. Emerging from the center of his chest was a ghostly ribbon that swirled and danced in the air, floating like it was seeking something. Instantly, his eyes fell on Rebecca’s relaxed face. It couldn’t be! Jerking back, he pulled from her body before tumbling back on his bare ass. With his sudden movement the ghostly thread was pulled further from the sleeping human on his bed.

Pain like never before assailed him, it was like something was being torn from him. How was this possible? Rebecca was his…mate. His
true
mate. It wasn’t possible—it couldn’t be! He’d already had a mate. Though with Emma and Travis’s mother; Beth, his binding thread had never emerged when he’d taken her, but he’d still claimed her. He’d long given up hope of finding his true mate and now fate had delivered her to him—as a human.

As his heart raced with the speed of a runaway train, the pain and burning heat in his chest grew. Lowering his gaze to the ribbon of white mist extending from his heart began to fade away to nothing. Within his mind he howled with pain as he’d lost the precious moment to claim her as his. Almost instantly his wolf’s angered thoughts bombarded his mind.

You denied us our mate! After so long! I want her! Whether she is human or shifter, I do not care! Claim her now! Make the binding thread return!

What was he to do now? His chest ached with incompletion, with the lack of the bond that should have been cemented in that precarious moment. He had to be the first shifter to deny the call of the Binding Thread, to deny himself the one woman meant solely for him.

Rising to his unsteady legs, Eric stumbled into the bathroom, gripping the edge of the sink, he stared at his reflection. He looked pale and shaken. Eric Daniels wasn’t a man to be
shaken
! He was an Alpha, a ruler over hundreds of wolf shifters. Nothing could ever raddle his control, until now.

Thinking back, he was finally seeing everything that he’d questioned over the past three months since meeting Rebecca fall into place. This explained his wolf emerging, his unexplainable jealousy at seeing Damon near her and not to mention his intense desire for her. All the signs had been there. How was it possible for him to ignore them all this time? Deep down his wolf had known, but not him. Had what Beth done to him nearly blinded him to his true mate?

The need within him to return to her and fully claim her overtook his mind like an addict’s next fix. Claiming her fully wouldn’t be easy. Unlike Doyle Mackenzie and his brother Robert who had both taken human mates, with wolves it simply wasn’t done. Wolf shifters were traditional and their hate for humans ran deep. Eric had never thought that he would have to face this when claiming his mate. He’d always assumed she’d be a shifter or that he’d have no one at all.

When it came to claiming humans as true mates, it was a double edged sword for many shifters. Just because the person was their true mate didn’t guarantee that the mating bite would turn their human mate. Doyle’s mate; Aria, was living proof of that fact. Also in some isolated cases, the transformation from human to shifter proved to be too much for the fragile human body to withstand and had resulted in many shifters losing their mates forever.

Was that the fate that awaited him with Rebecca? Had he found his true mate only to lose her to a painful death? Even if he didn’t give her his mating bite, he couldn’t keep her a secret from his pack for long. The Act of Revealment would be issued and then it would be too late to woo her into the idea. Either way he looked at it; he may have only discovered his true mate to kill her. The only other option would be to let her go.

Glancing down at his shaft that already was growing hard once more, Eric grimaced at the sight of his spent seed mixed with Rebecca’s virginal blood. Was it even possible for him to let her go now? Claws slicing against the polished wood of the sink counter, he shook his head. Looking at his reflection, he watched as his blue eyes glowed dangerously and his fangs grew. Rebecca was
his
! He may not have fully claimed her as a shifter, but he had claimed her as a man. It was enough for tonight. He would deal with the consequences later.

Grabbing a wash cloth, he quickly cleaned away the evidence that lingered on his hard length. Running the cloth under the hot water, he returned to the bedroom only to pause beside the bed. Rebecca had rolled onto her side in her sleep. Staring at the wrinkled scarlet blouse that brushed against the top curve of her round ass, he licked his lips.

Damn it all if he didn’t already need her again.

Claim our mate!
His wolf snarled loudly.

Frowning Eric struggled to keep himself in check. He couldn’t take her again, not this soon anyway. With his aching chest full of regret he moved forward. Kneeling on the bed behind her, he gently used the cloth to cleanse her between her closed thighs. In her sleep, Rebecca flinched from his gentle ministrations, her face deepening into a frown.

Bending to brush his lips against her brow, his nose nuzzling against the softness of her hair, he whispered softly to her. “Shh. I have you. Sleep for now, angel. Tomorrow everything changes for you…and for me.”

Tossing the cloth over his shoulder once he’d cleaned away the evidence of their lovemaking, Eric tugged the soiled blanket out from underneath her to toss next to his closet. With care he pulled out the top sheet from beneath her. Settling on the bed behind her, he drew the thin sheet over the both of them as he pulled her closer to him. Even as close as she was to his bare skin, it didn’t feel close enough and he knew it never would.

Ignoring the aching in his chest, he pressed his face into the soft waves of her hair as his eyes drew closed. Before sleep claimed him, he couldn’t fight the waves of joy that echoed from his heart through his mind. Fate had given him another chance! He had a true mate now and by God he was going to keep her this time.

“Tell me about your family.” Eric suddenly demanded early the next morning. Lying on her side with Eric’s body spooning against her back, Rebecca forced herself to focus on his words and not the warm fingers he was presently trailing up and down the valley between her breasts. Brushing his caressing hand aside, she reached down to adjust the thin sheet over her breasts, effectively adding another barrier against Eric’s relentless touch.

“Why?” she asked suspiciously.

It had been strange waking this morning with Eric’s arms around her—if that what you could call it. The embrace she’d found herself in wasn’t what she’d envisioned for a typical
morning after
cuddle. She’d awakened with one of his large hands covering one of her heavy breasts beneath her blouse while his other hand cupped her tender sex between her thighs possessively.

“Because I realized last night that I know next to nothing about you,”

Not turning to look at him, Rebecca shrugged nonchalantly. “Sarah told you about me the week I was hired.”

“True. But back then I was avoiding you.” He replied. She felt as though she could practically hear the smile in his voice that he must be wearing. She wasn’t used to Eric being…nice. It threw her off and confused her.

“Is that what you call being a total ass face?”

Chuckling, Eric clicked his tongue at her scolding. “Such language.”

Nuzzling his face in the curve of her neck, heat blossomed between her thighs as a shiver slid over her body at the contact. Behind her, Eric’s grin widened at her attempt to brush him off. How could the simplest touch from him cause this much of a reaction from her?

Gulping, she forced her voice to emerge even and not to quiver like the rest of her. “You’re a bad influence.”

“We’ll see.” He responded cryptically as she felt his teeth nip at the sensitive dip of her neck. “Go on,” he began, his hand trailing down her exposed arm in a gentle caress. “What is your family like? Your parents?”

Even at the heat his touch brought her, at his question Rebecca felt her chest tighten with pain at the memory of her loving parents. Her mother had been kind and gentle, always volunteering for some event in their community or filling their home with the smell of her delicious cooking. Her father was—had been reserved but a bit of a clown during the right moments. Like a flash of lightening across the sky, the memories of laughter and love were replaced by the images of her parent’s deaths, their torn bodies lying in dark pools of their own blood.

Squeezing her eyes closed, her hands fisted against the edge of her pillow as she fought against the burning tears. Taking a deep inhale, with her heart shuttering in her chest, her eyes slowly opened.

“What of them?” she quietly asked, returning his question with a question.

Tightening his arm around her middle, Eric brushed his lips softly against her ear. “Is the subject of your family a hard one?” he inquired, the teasing note gone from his voice.

A part of Rebecca was thankful that he’d sensed how upset she was at the mention of her parents, but it didn’t change the fact that she couldn’t tell him the truth about them either. Or the truth of what she’d seen that night.

“A bit.” Taking a breath, she told him what she could without calling about danger to herself. “My parents are dead.” The relaxed feel of Eric’s body against her back suddenly changed as he stiffened.

“I am sorry. What happened?”

Rebecca sighed wearily at his question. Obviously he wanted answers. But it had taken her years to not see that night over and over in her head. Nightmares of the monster that had attacked her and killed her parents had haunted her ever time she’d closed her eyes and still lingered in her thoughts. As much as she detested the thought of reliving it all over again, she had to tell him something.

“They were murdered and that is all I wish to say on the subject.” She said curtly.

His stubble covered jaw rubbed against the side of her throat as he nodded slowly. “Very well.” pausing to take a breath, Eric reached toward her face. His hand gently cupped the side of her face before turning to face him. Meeting his gaze, she was surprised to see that his blue eyes were soft with a gentle shine to them. “You know you can talk to me about anything, don’t you?”

Pressing her lips together, she fought the urge to reply to him, but lost. Rolling onto her back, she forced herself to meet his gaze. “I don’t talk about my parent’s deaths, Eric. There are parts of me; my past and secrets that you won’t ever touch.”

Unaffected by her firm refusal to tell him more, Eric’s wide shoulders lifted in a careless shrug. Smirking down at her, he replied. “Give me time and I
will
.”

Rolling her eyes, Rebecca fought not to return his smile with one of her own. She was toying with fire and she knew it. If she were smart; she’d jump out of his arms and his bed, get dressed and leave.

Last night was meant to simply satisfy her curiosity. But instead she now found herself lingering in his embrace. Why? Why did it feel so good to have his arms around her, holding her? His touch caused her body to flare with heat that bloomed in her chest. It was a feeling she’d never known before and deep down, she knew once she left him that she’d never know it again.

Mentally shaking herself, she moved to push space between them. “You never speak of Emma and Travis’s mother.” She remarked. As she’d predicted; Eric tensed beside her before putting a small amount of space between them. The gentleness in his eyes faded to be replaced by his usual cold mask.

With his jaw clenched tight, he bit out. “Why would I? She’s not worth mentioning.”

Turning on her side to face him, her face rested against her palm as her elbow braced against the mattress. “I just wonder why she’s not here. Sarah never mentions her and neither do you. I’m just curious is all.”

Eric scoffed, giving her a cynical look. “Well you know what they say about curiosity.”

When he made no move to say anything else, Rebecca rolled over onto her back, putting more space between them. Turning to glance toward the blind covered window, she could see the hint of morning light streaking across the dark sky. She needed to leave before Emma and Travis knew she was here. She wouldn’t be able to look at their sweet, innocent faces and tell them goodbye. It would hurt them so much and it would kill her.

Tugging at the hem of her blouse as far as it would go, she shoved the sheet aside before sitting up and swinging her legs over the edge of the bed. Rising to her feet, Rebecca frowned when she saw that the bottom of her blouse barely fell beyond the upper swell of her buttocks. No doubt giving Eric a show as she stood. Heat flooded her face when she made the terrible mistake to glance back at Eric.

Much to her embarrassment, his eyes were in fact on her uncovered bottom as he smirked at her knowingly. If that wasn’t bad enough; she realized that when she’d shoved the sheet from her body, she’d also thrown the thin material off of Eric as well. With nothing to hide him from her gaze, Rebecca got her first real look of him.
All of him
. Her hungry eyes took in the sight of his muscled chest that was dusted with dark hair that led a hypnotizing trail down his abs, stomach and then to…

Whoa…

Air froze in her lungs as her eyes widened in wonder. If it was possible for her to blush further—she did. She’d never seen a male’s body before. Well; she had, but never had she beheld any sight like this. Eric’s body was the perfect mix of danger and beauty. His cock stood out, strong and proud, drawing her gaze. Mouth going dry and her womb clenching at the sight, it took everything in her not to return to the bed and touch him. Her hands itched to wrap around his hard length, to feel the texture of him and memorize every inch of him.

“If you wanted to look at me, all you had to do was ask.” Eric teased his voice heavy with meaning.  It was no mystery what thoughts were swirling in his mind at that moment. “Come here.” He beckoned with his hand as his lips curved into a wolfish grin.

Gulping at the sudden lump in her throat, Rebecca cursed her trembling body as she fought not to cave in. Already she could feel the addicting pull of him, of what it was like to be held, kissed and touched by him. It was that same addicting need that she needed to run from…now! If she stayed even for a second she was risking everything. It was time to go.

Shaking her head at his soft command, she turned away from him. “I have to get going.” With a trembling hand, she brushed one side of her tussled hair behind an ear, all the while surveying the floor for her missing skirt and underwear. Even now she could feel Eric watching her, yet he said nothing. His eyes were like a fiery brand on her skin.

Just get your stuff and go.
She mentally screamed at herself.

Never hearing a single sound of movement from the bed, she let out a startled gasp as two strong arms encircled her waist, pulling her against her back against Eric’s very naked form. “Stay, it’s early still and I’d like you to eat with us.” He whispered against the side of her throat as his lips trailed gentle kisses up to the sensitive skin of her ear.

Sparks of heat shot through her womb, making her breasts feel heavy and ache. Within seconds her body was burning with need simply from the feel of his lips. Even though her muscles echoed with tenderness, she wanted him. She needed him.

Stay strong. Stay firm.
Her stupid, ill timed reason reminded her.

Gripping his wrists, Rebecca forced his enticing hands away from her waist. Though Eric was ten times stronger than her, she knew she was only able to step out of his embrace in that moment because he let her. Ignoring the warm tingling sensation at touching his skin, she released his wrists as though touching him burned her.

“No. I’m leaving, Eric.”

* ~ * ~ *

Deep inside his being, Eric felt his wolf howl at her emotionless spoken words. Taking a deep breath, he slowly released it, attempting to calm his agitated beast.
“No. I’m leaving, Eric.”
The simple words shouldn’t have made his chest tighten with worry, but they did. Somehow he sensed that she was telling him something. Leaving? Technically today was his day off and Rebecca usually didn’t work. Had she meant that she simply wished to go home or was it something else? Pondering her words, Eric was surprised to find that his wolf came to realization before he had.

She plans to run from us! Stop her! Claim her before she is lost to us!

Shock at his beast thoughts, Eric started at the stiff line of Rebecca’s back as she searched for her missing skirt with a horrified expression. Did she really think she could simply give herself to him last night and then disappear?

Never!

Fists clenching tightly at his sides, he fought to keep his overwhelming anger out of his voice as he gently asked her, “What’s your rush?”

After discovering her flimsy skirt under the bed, Rebecca bent to pluck it up. She held the thin material to her chest with a look of victory. Turning to look at him as thought she hadn’t known he was still standing behind her, she seemed to remember his question. She shook her head with a look of regret that she quickly masked before speaking.

“I have to get home. I need to shower, change clothes and then…” her words trailed off as a shadow of doubt flashed across her eyes. He studied her in silence. What thought had crossed her mind and made her eyes fill with the dark sadness he now saw?

“Why? Shower here. I have something you can wear for now and I promise I will take you back to get your car and take you home later if you wish.” He neglected to tell her that he’d be dragging her right back to his home directly afterwards. She was crazy if she thought he’d let her run and hide from him again.

To his amusement, he saw that Rebecca’s heated gaze had shifted from his face as he’d spoken to take in every detail of his naked body. He felt his cock pulse with need at the touch of her eyes. A beautiful wash of embarrassment at being caught staring so blatantly at him rushed up Rebecca’s neck and into her face.

He was quickly discovering that the best way to handle his human mate was to put that heat in her face as often as he could. She was less unpredictable when she was embarrassed. So if she was unnerved by his unclothed body, he would use it as the weapon it was.

Jerking her eyes from him, she quickly began shimming into her skirt.  To his amusement she kept attempting to stretch the length out as the bottom edge of her skirt fell barely to the tops of her knees.

Avoiding his gaze, she kept her eyes downcast before asking, “What would delaying this help?”

“
This?
” what the hell was that suppose to mean? “You have no intention of returning do you?”

In an attempt to straighten her blouse, Rebecca kept her back to him. “Why would I, Eric?”

Turning in a way that said she was reluctant to face him, she ran a shaking hand through her hair, hesitantly meeting his hard gaze. “You fired me, remember?”

“I accept your resignation but never your absence.” He said fiercely.

“Too bad.” She whispered with a hint of regret. “What outcome did you think we’d have after last night, Eric? I don’t harbor any girlish fantasies about what happened last night.”