Nic (6 page)

Nic swore under his breath and shoved his hand into his pocket to pull out some cash. He tossed the money onto the bar and waved goodbye to Lucien. His friend gave him a knowing smirk, then went right back to work.

He rushed out the door and headed through the parking lot. He didn’t get far before he heard sounds of a struggle taking place. Nic bolted in the direction of the sound. He found the two pups clumsily groping the blonde and trying to convince her to go into the woods. Her brown eyes were wide with alarm and she stank of fear.

Fury overtook him and Nic growled low. So low that only the two Weres could hear him. Their heads whipped around to confront the threat. Matching sets of glowing eyes stared at him.

“Leave the lady alone,” Nic said.

“Don’t you have somewhere you need to be, old man?” the more daring of the two asked.

His friend shuffled his feet, putting some distance between him and the woman. Sweat broke out across his forehead and his Adam’s apple convulsed in his throat.

At least one of them is smart
, Nic thought.

Thirty wasn’t exactly ancient, but he could see how a couple of twenty-somethings might think so. Nic didn’t know these two, and they certainly didn’t know him or they wouldn’t be so mouthy.

“I’m not going to tell you again,
son
.” Menace dripped from Nic’s words.

“We’re just having ourselves a good time. Aren’t we, sweetheart?” The young pup grabbed the woman’s arm, and she squeaked. “You need to move along before you get hurt.”

At 230 pounds, Nic wasn’t exactly a lightweight. Maybe the pup thought that since there were two of them that they could easily take him. It was a mistake they were going to regret. He might be naturally laidback, but he hadn’t reached his position in the pack by being a pushover.

Nic’s gaze shifted to the frightened woman. “Get in your car and get out of here.”

She gave him a jerky nod and reached for her car door. The second she opened it, the young pup closest to her slammed the door shut. The woman flinched.

“You aren’t going anywhere.” His gaze never left Nic’s as he spoke to her.

Nic shrugged. “Have it your way.”

The pup farthest from the woman launched himself at Nic. Nic swung his fist, catching the pup under the chin. The Were flew through the air and landed on his butt. He shook his head, trying to clear it, and struggled to his feet.

Before he could right himself, the other Were attacked. His body slammed into Nic, taking them both to the ground. The pup got in a couple of good blows before Nic managed to throw him off.

Nic got to his feet, only to be punched in the face by the Were he’d taken down first. The blow caught him beneath the eye, slicing his skin open. Blood trickled over his face onto the front of his shirt. The next punch he dodged, but the pup’s fist still managed to clip his ear. The move pissed him off.

“Enough!” Nic shouted, and tossed the pup at his friend. They collided, and both fell to the ground.

Nic faced the two young Weres, keeping his back to the woman. While he glared at them, he allowed a hint of his wolf to surface. The world turned to gray as his eyes shifted and his incisors lengthened. Power swept out in front of him, washing over them.

The two Weres paled and scrambled back.

“Go! Now!” The words came out garbled, but his meaning was clear.

“Come on,” the smarter of the two said. He grabbed his friend’s arm, dragging him away.

“This isn’t finished,” the brazen one shouted before he left.

Yes, it is
, Nic thought.

* * * * *

Mindy never imagined that anyone would ever fight over her. “Cute” didn’t inspire men to lay down their lives. Sure, she’d heard about fights happening and had seen them many times in the animal kingdom, when a male was fighting for the right to mate, but she’d never experienced it firsthand.

Celina had told her how thrilling the experience was. At the time, Mindy had thought Celina’s need for constant drama and reassurance had led her to exaggerate, but she hadn’t. At least not entirely.

Mindy couldn’t deny the thrill skating along her spine or the sudden unwelcome surge of arousal.
What did that say about her?

When her would-be savior had first arrived, Mindy wasn’t sure if it was a good thing or if the situation had just gone from bad to worse. Now she had no doubt that he’d saved her life, or at least saved her from something truly unpleasant.

Her eyes were drawn to the play of muscles beneath his T-shirt as he watched the men who’d been hassling her leave. He was
magnificent
. Her gaze slowly lowered and the impressive view got even better.

Her heart continued to pound, but now it was from more than fear. And Mindy wasn’t at all certain how she planned to handle that.

* * * * *

Between the impending full moon and the adrenaline pumping through him, Nic was having a difficult time maintaining a civilized façade.

Weres only fought over females for the opportunity to mate. His body hardened as bone-deep instincts attempted to arrest his control. Nic clamped down hard on his feral nature.

The breeze shifted, bringing her sweet scent to him. Sex was the last thing he wanted from a human—even one that smelled so delicious. He gritted his teeth and clenched his fists. He had to get his wolf leashed before he looked at her. His body was making demands that couldn’t be met.

Nic decided his only recourse was to make sure she was okay, then leave before he did something they’d both regret. Nic took a deep breath and faced her, determined to get it over with. The second their eyes met, his resolve crumbled like clay in the hot sun.

* * * * *

Mindy was used to dealing with injured animals, not humans. So nothing could’ve prepared her for the jolt that struck the moment his dark blue eyes met hers.

Blood smeared his cheek and dust covered his shirt. There was something wild about his gaze, something utterly untamed. It drew her in when every instinct screamed at her to escape.

Mindy couldn’t leave him. Not like this. Not after he’d fought to protect her. She pushed away from the car and tried to touch him.

“Don’t!” The single word was torn from his chest as he grabbed her wrist. His hard, unyielding grip bordered on painful.

“You’re hurt.” She hesitated, then pressed on, drawn to the heat simmering in his eyes. The moment her fingers made contact with his taut face, the man groaned and pulled her into his arms.

His lips came down upon hers before Mindy could take a breath. He kissed her with such stark hunger that her body immediately went up in flames. The wildness inside her that had been dormant for so long flared to life and pushed aside all logic.

Mindy’s body melted into his hard chest. Just for tonight, she didn’t want to be the responsible sibling. She wanted to be someone other than “Monotonous Mindy.” She wanted to be...herself for once.

She didn’t notice that he’d released her arm until she’d wrapped her hands around his neck and sunk her fingers into his soft hair. By then it was too late to pull back.

* * * * *

Alarm bells rang in Nic’s head. He immediately hit snooze and kept kissing her. He couldn’t get enough of her sweet taste. He’d been prepared to let her walk away. Planned to make her leave. Then she’d gone and done the unthinkable. She’d touched him.

The heat from her fingertips incinerated his good intentions, sending them up in smoke. Nic pulled her into his arms and kissed her.

For one insane moment, he worried that he was no better than the Weres who’d been trying to take advantage of her. The thought unraveled when her blunt teeth sank into his lower lip and she ran her tongue across the tender bite.

Nic shuddered and his big body jerked, then his hands locked tighter around her. He kneaded her round bottom, then cupped her and lifted her off her feet. She fit perfectly in his hands, as if she were made for him. The thought ratcheted up his need, and Nic grew harder.

Despite her petite size and her vintage dress, the woman managed to wrap her legs around his hips. Nic groaned into her mouth as the ridge of his maleness collided with her feminine heat. If he didn’t get inside her soon, his head would explode.

He carried her away from her car, away from the entrance to Sticks, to his pick-up truck. They were near enough to the tree line and far enough from the bar to ensure a level of privacy they wouldn’t otherwise have. Still, Nic scanned the area with his acute senses to ensure they were alone before lowering his tailgate and setting her down upon it.

One hand continued to massage her lush bottom, while the other reached under her dress. He willed himself to slow, let them catch their breath and allow good sense to return, but he couldn’t. It was like he was being driven by an unseen force that was determined to take, to seize.

Nic chalked his urgency up to the moon’s influence, though he couldn’t recall this ever happening before. His exploring fingers encountered lace, then struck moisture and scalding heat.

Just one taste. That was all he wanted. That’s all he needed. He pulled his hand out and licked the moisture off his fingers.

Her taste burst over his tongue and he nearly dropped to his knees. Overwhelmed by the sensations, Nic growled in the back of his throat. He’d never tasted anything like her. So rich, so creamy, so addictively delicious.

Nic needed more. He hiked her skirt up and ripped her panties off. “I’ll buy you new ones,” he rasped, as her feminine musk surrounded them.

The heady aroma betrayed her eagerness. It also fueled the fire roaring through his veins. Nic’s lips found hers once more.

He wanted to bury his nose between her thighs. Wanted to lick her depths until she quivered beneath him, begging him to take her, but Nic couldn’t wait—and neither could she, if the needy whimpers coming from her throat were any indication.

He deepened the kiss, swirling his tongue around her mouth, trying to capture her essence. Each did their best to devour the other.

The woman pulled at his shirt and ran her fingers along his back, then grasped his ass and yanked him closer.

Her petals unfurled for him as he sank his fingers into her scalding heat. She instantly tightened around him. Nic waited a heartbeat, then added another finger and continued his intimate exploration. She felt like heaven and smelled like candy-coated sin. Nic couldn’t get enough of her.

With a twist of his hand, he found her swollen flesh. He stroked the tender nub, driving her higher, leaving her teetering on the edge of oblivion.

“Please,” she gasped.

Her begging didn’t sit well with him. If anything, he should be the one groveling at her feet. Nic reached into his back pocket and pulled out a condom. He couldn’t catch any human diseases, and one sniff told him that she was disease free. There was no chance he could get her pregnant. Weres could only procreate with their bondmates, and even then, they had to be marked. But the prophylactic would ease her mind.

Nic ignored the ache in his jaw and focused on the one in his pants. He popped the button on his jeans and his zipper hissed as he eased it down. Her hands were on him in an instant, taking his breath and making him weak. Nic gritted his teeth and prayed for strength to hold out long enough to get the condom on.

* * * * *

Mindy’s body was on fire. She’d never been this brazen in her life. She’d also never wanted a man this much. If she weren’t in total control of her faculties, Mindy would swear she’d been possessed. She had never understood what made sex such an all-consuming big deal—until now.

She pulled back from their kiss and saw him sheathe himself. His immense size obviously extended to every part of his body. For one crazy minute, she didn’t think this would be anatomically possible.

“Wait!” Mindy held her hand against his chest as he positioned the thick head at her entrance. Was she really going to do this? Was this really her?

He clenched his jaw and his big body trembled, but her savior stopped instantly. “Have you changed your mind?” he asked, his expression pained.

Had she? Mindy stared into his dark blue eyes and found herself falling once more. No, she wanted this. Wanted him. Had from the moment she’d laid eyes on him. If only for tonight, she’d have him and be the kind of woman she’d always known she could be.

“No.” Mindy shook her head. “Just needed to catch my breath.”

“Thank the moon!” he said, then seized her mouth once more.

Mindy’s thoughts scattered to the stars as he sent her sailing across a sea of pure sensation. He brushed her entrance, then ran himself up and down her moist cleft. Once he was covered in her juices, he pulled back and thrust forward, impaling her.

* * * * *

Nic swallowed her shocked cry, then tried to catch his breath as his body adjusted to the vise-like hold she had on it. He wasn’t a small man, but he hadn’t expected her to be quite so tight. Nic quivered as he tried to hold himself still inside her pulsing core.

For a moment, he’d thought she was a virgin and his heart had nearly stopped. She wasn’t, but the woman was blissfully snug. Snug enough to let him know that it had been a while since she’d had a man inside her.

The realization left him feeling ridiculously pleased. He kissed her gently and slowly sucked on the tip of her tongue, savoring her passion, while he waited for her to relax.

Her body’s grip on him eventually eased. Nic carefully rocked his hips to test her readiness.

She whimpered, then sighed.

The woman melted around him, while her big brown eyes shimmered with desire. Nic found himself drowning in their chocolaty depths, wanting to spend eternity there. All sense of self-preservation went out the window.

Lost in her eyes, he thrust again, gliding smoothly into her. She sank her fingernails into his forearms and tugged. Nic dropped onto his elbows. The move crushed the ripe swell of her breasts against his unyielding chest. Her nipples beaded instantly.