Wolf on the Run: Salvation Pack, Book 3 (14 page)

But he made no move to act upon it. He merely continued to dance with her. Cherise relaxed and enjoyed every moment of it. She’d had so much fun tonight, more than she’d had since she was a child. In truth, she couldn’t remember ever having such a wonderful evening. Everyone here accepted her with open arms, offering her a place among them.

She wanted it more than anything.

No, that wasn’t quite true. She wanted to be with Cole most of all.

He was it for her. Her mate. Her one and only.

He leaned down and nuzzled the top of her head. “Everything okay?” His tone was gruff, his voice low. But that didn’t matter. Everyone else in the room could hear him.

“Everything is perfect.” It was an honest answer. Tonight had been wonderful, and she suspected it would only get better.

The song ended and Gator held up both the bow and fiddle. “That’s pretty much the only song I know.” The others laughed and Gator took a bow before placing the instrument back in the case. “How about a snack?”

Everyone drifted toward the kitchen area. It didn’t take long to put on a pot of coffee and dig up some leftover cake and some cookies. That was another thing Cherise enjoyed about living here. There was always food and lots of it. That hadn’t always been the case in her life.

Cole hadn’t let her go since their dance ended. He leaned against the wall with one arm wrapped around her. “What are you thinking?”

She grinned at him and was truthful. “That I love the fact there’s always lots of good food in this place.”

The others laughed. Everyone except Cole. His eyes darkened and he frowned. She knew he understood what she wasn’t saying. That she enjoyed the food so much because she’d often gone hungry.

She patted his chest. “It’s okay.”

He caught her hand, brought it to his mouth and placed a kiss in the center of her palm. “No, it’s not okay.”

“I survived,” she pointed out. Her mother hadn’t been quite so lucky. It still hurt Cherise that she hadn’t been able to stay, hadn’t been able to cremate her mother’s body and sprinkle her ashes. But justice had been done. That would have to be enough.

Cole placed her hand over his heart. She felt the steady thump against her skin. “You did more than just survive,
ma belle
. You’re amazing.”

Uncomfortable with the intensity of his gaze, Cherise turned back to the rest of the group. Mugs and plates were quickly set around the table and they all took their seats. Or she tried to take hers. Cole wasn’t having any of it. He sat and pulled her onto his lap. She could have protested but didn’t. It was nice to belong, to be wanted.

Cole held a forkful of cake up to her mouth and waited until she ate it. As she chewed, Cherise glanced around the table, but no one was paying them any attention. Not that they didn’t see what was going on, only that it wasn’t a big deal to them. Armand held a cookie up and tempted Anny to take a bit. Gwen offered Jacque some of her cake only to teasingly pull the fork away at the last second and pop it into her own mouth. Jacque growled and lunged at Gwen’s neck, nuzzling it until she laughed.

They were all so alive, living in the moment and having such fun. And she was a part of it. It was almost another hour before they gathered up the dirty dishes and said goodnight to one another. Through it all, Cole was by her side.

Cherise soaked up every moment of the evening, knowing she would soon have to leave and face her past. It was the only way she’d ever have a chance at a real future, a future she wanted with every breath in her body.

Chapter Fourteen

Cole yanked his shirt over his head and tossed it onto the chair in the corner of the bedroom. Cherise was in the bathroom getting ready for bed. He sighed and rolled his shoulders, trying to work out the tension in his muscles as he listened to every move, every sound she made.

The bathroom door finally opened and he went to her and pulled her into his arms. “You have a good time tonight?”

She nodded. “I did. It was fun.”

There were so many secrets in her eyes, shadows from the past. Cole wanted to erase them all and replace them with nothing but happiness. He knew that wasn’t realistic or even possible, but that didn’t stop him from wanting to do it all the same.

“Get into bed. I’ll be there in a minute.” He released her and watched her walk across the room and crawl into his king-sized bed. He went into the bathroom, mostly to give himself some time to collect himself. He shut the door, leaned against the counter and studied his reflection in the glass.

His expression was grim. Not exactly lover-like, but he couldn’t do a damn thing to change it. He wanted to swear, but knew Cherise would hear him if he did. He was tense all the time lately, worried about who was going to come looking for her next. It was bad enough to have to watch out for his former pack without adding hers to the mix.

This couldn’t go on any longer. He was leaving tonight to handle this mess once and for all. He had a plan. He only prayed it would work.

He ran some water over his face and swiped at it with a towel before turning out the light and opening the door. Cherise was waiting in bed, her eyes reflecting the moonlight streaming in through the window.

Cole pulled off his jeans and dropped them by the side of the bed. Hands on his hips, he stared down at the woman who owned his heart.

“What’s wrong?” She eased back the covers and patted the mattress. “Come to bed and talk to me.”

It wasn’t talking he had in mind. Cole slid into bed and pulled Cherise into his arms. He needed to taste her, to touch her, to make her understand how important she was to him. He wanted to give her all the protection he could, and there was only one way to ensure that happened.

He brushed her hair back from her eyes. He knew she was concerned about him, could see it in her eyes and feel it in the way she cupped his jaw.

“What is it?” she asked.

Cole shook his head. He didn’t want to talk. Not tonight. And, at any rate, he was more a man of action than one of words.

He kissed her, letting himself sink into her lush mouth until they were sharing the very air they breathed. Cherise opened and let him in, kissing him back with abandon. He wanted her kisses for a lifetime.

She slid her hand down his jaw and over his neck. Her touch was so gentle and right. She gripped his shoulders and moaned as he thrust his tongue into her mouth. He was hard now. All over. Every muscle in his body was tensed. His cock was hard and eager to be inside her.

But Cole wanted to take it slow, to savor each touch and taste.

Cherise stroked her fingers over his ribs and around to his butt, digging her nails into him. He growled and rolled onto his back, bringing her over him. “Touch me,” he commanded. He wanted her hands all over him.

Cherise sat on his thighs and smiled at him, all sassy and teasing. She leaned forward and kissed him. The motion pressed her firm breasts against his chest and her stomach against his raging hard-on.

He held the back of her skull with one hand so he could keep kissing her. She tasted like all his tomorrows, like hope.

She braced her hands on his shoulders and levered herself away from him. “You need to stay still if you want me to touch you.” The sultry quality of her voice made his cock jerk.

She laughed and sat upright, dragging her hands down his chest in the process. “Mmm, I love all your hard muscles.”

He grabbed one of her hands and placed it over his erection. “You want hard,
ma belle
, I’ll give you hard.”

Cherise laughed and the sound made his chest tighten. She laughed so seldom that it was a gift to him when she did. She wrapped her fingers around his shaft. “You are hard, aren’t you?”

Cole couldn’t answer her, not while her hand was pumping up and down over his swollen flesh. She slid off him and settled in beside him on the bed. “I love the way you feel in my hand.”

He loved it too. He just couldn’t get enough oxygen into his lungs to talk. Not with her mouth moving lower and her breath fanning over his cock.

“I love the way you taste even more.” She dragged her tongue up the length of his shaft from base to tip. He groaned and arched his hips, wanting more.

She laughed again, the sound full of sensual promise. “You like that.” Cherise licked the head of his penis before flicking the slit with the tip of her tongue.

Cole swore and his hips bowed off the bed. “Cherise.” He growled her name in warning. Much more of that and she’d find herself flat on her back with him buried inside her.

Cherise heard the warning in Cole’s voice but ignored it. She was having too good a time teasing her wolf. He could be dangerous to others, but never to her. Still, she didn’t want to push her luck. She was having too much fun exploring his magnificent body.

Every muscle in his body was taut. Even though the room was lit only by moonlight, she could easily see every ripple and line of his broad chest and washboard abs. The man was sexy as all get out. All he had to do was lie there and breathe and she wanted him.

His eyes were half-closed, but she could see them reflecting the light. His hands were fisted by his sides, and she knew it was to keep from reaching for her. She appreciated his restraint although she didn’t expect it to last long. Like everywhere else in his life, Cole liked to dominate and control in the bedroom.

It had surprised her to see his artistic side tonight. Watching him play the fiddle had been nothing short of astonishing. He’d been so into the music. And dancing with him was something she’d never forget. Having his hard body plastered against hers while they’d swayed to the music, their torsos rubbing against one another, was the best foreplay she’d ever experienced.

Her nipples tingled just remembering earlier.

He’d been preoccupied when he’d come to bed, but whatever had been on his mind was obviously gone for the moment. His entire focus was on her.

She licked the head of his erection again, teasing the ridge just below it with her tongue. He groaned and arched toward her. Cherise opened her mouth and took him inside. She flicked her tongue over the tip and tasted his arousal—salty and musky and warm.

Cherise made a humming sound and sucked in her cheeks. Cole growled and surged upward, pushing his shaft deeper. She reached between his legs and cupped his heavy sac in her hands, gently massaging his balls.

“You’re killing me,
chère
.”

She pulled back and blew on his erection. “You can take it,” she teased. It was a new experience for her to have fun in bed. Cole had taught her it was okay to let go and simply enjoy herself. It didn’t have to be all serious. Of course, she’d never made love with a guy who knew exactly who and what she was before Cole. That made such a difference. She could simply relax and be herself. She didn’t have to temper her strength or desires.

Cherise sucked on his cock again, sliding her mouth up and down his hard length. She gripped the base in her hand to keep him from going too deep, controlling the depth of his thrusts. Setting a rhythm that pleased them both, she urged him on. She wanted him to come like this, to please him this way.

His pleasure was hers. She was getting aroused simply by touching him and loving him. Her pussy was wet and her breasts ached for his touch. But she wanted to do this for him more than she wanted to come herself.

“Cherise.” Her name was little more than a guttural grunt. He bared his teeth, threw his head back and gripped the sheets tightly. She turned all her concentration to making him lose control. Fabric ripped and she knew he’d just torn the sheets.

Still, he fought her, fought losing control.

She released him long enough to whisper, “Come for me.” Then she took him into her mouth again and sucked.

Cherise felt the tension mount and knew he was close. His cock jerked in her hand, and she felt his orgasm shoot up his shaft. He made a strangled sound somewhere between a growl and a howl as he came in her mouth. She swallowed, sucking hard, wanting him to get maximum enjoyment. The base of his cock swelled in her hand and she had to release him. If he was inside her, he’d be locked in.

She swallowed until he was done and then she pulled away. She laid her head on his abdomen and licked her lips. Both of them were breathing heavily. He reached down and tangled his fingers in her hair.

Finally, she began to get restless. He’d come, but she was still on edge, her entire body on fire for something only he could give her.

Cole tugged gently on her hair and she raised her head. He released her, his hand falling back to the mattress with a thud. “That was incredible.”

The corners of her mouth turned up in a pleased smile. “Glad you enjoyed it.”

He pounced with such swiftness she gave a small squeal. He rolled them until she was under him, staring up at his beloved face. “I did enjoy it. Now it’s time for you to enjoy yourself.”

She liked the sound of that. She waved her hand vaguely in front of her. “Don’t let me stop you.”

Cole loved this playful side of Cherise. His ears were still ringing from his guttural yells, his body still humming from his mind-blowing orgasm. He could still feel her mouth around his dick, sucking him dry. His cock stirred again even though he’d just come. Oh yeah, it was good to be a werewolf and not have to worry about recovery time, at least not until he’d come two or three times.

He supported himself on his forearms, keeping most of his weight off her. Her face was flushed and her eyes twinkled. God almighty, she was pretty. Her lips were swollen from their earlier kisses. He dragged his tongue over her bottom lip, tasting himself on her mouth.

She made a humming sound, the same one she’d made while she was sucking him off. His cock jerked, pressing hard against her stomach.

“Again?” He could hear the astonishment in her voice.

“It’s all your fault,” he told her as he kissed a path down her jaw and nibbled on her neck. “You do this to me.” He dragged his tongue over her soft skin. He could smell her arousal mixed with his own and it made him feel like the king of the world.

“Sure, blame me.”

His biceps bulged beneath her questing touch. Her hands were everywhere, on his chest and shoulders and arms. He dragged his tongue over her delicate collarbone and then down between her breasts. She sucked in a breath and he admired the way the mounds of her breasts swayed. He cupped one firm breast and circled the puckered nub but didn’t touch it.

She moaned and grabbed his hair and tried to pull him closer. He smiled and then flicked the hard tip with his tongue. “Is that what you want?”

“
Yes
,” she hissed.

He left that breast and went to the other and flicked the taut nub. Cherise moaned and her entire body bowed into his touch. Cole lost track of time as he stroked and licked and nibbled on her breasts and torso. He teased her belly button with his tongue and nipped at her hipbone, drawing a half moan, half laugh from her.

The perfume of her arousal grew stronger until he could no longer resist its lure. He settled between her thighs with her legs draped over his shoulders. She was wide open to him and he savored the view of her pussy. The folds were swollen and wet. He inhaled deeply, ignoring the urgency of his own desire. His cock was throbbing, demanding he get inside her. Now.

But Cole had no intentions of satisfying his desire until she’d come.

Her clit was peeking out from beneath its protective hood, and he dragged his tongue over the bundle of nerves. Cherise moaned and dug her heels into his back. He pressed two fingers into her slick channel. It clenched around him before allowing entrance.

“Cole.”

He loved the way she said his name when she was aroused. It was part plea and part demand.

He used his tongue and fingers to push her higher, to bring her closer to the edge. He licked and sucked her folds before returning to her clit and drawing it into his mouth. She cried out as he thrust his fingers in and out of her pussy.

Cherise undulated on the bed, desperate to come.

He pushed harder. “Come for me,” he demanded. His cock was so swollen with desire it was going to explode if he didn’t get inside her soon. Her legs squeezed his shoulders and her heels dug hard into his back. She arched her hips upward and a low, thin cry broke from her lips.

Her pussy gripped his fingers as she orgasmed. Her cream slid over his fingers and he withdrew them and licked at her opening. She cried out again and pushed against his mouth.

Cole couldn’t wait any longer. He sat back, flipped her onto her belly and pulled her up onto her hands and knees. Positioned behind her, he fed his cock into her pussy one inch at a time. It wasn’t easy with her inner muscles still spasming. She tensed but didn’t stop him, and he kept a slow, steady pressure until she took all of him.

“You are magnificent,” he told her. He ran his hands up her slender back, down to her rounded hips and over her curved behind. “I love your ass.”

Her pussy clamped down hard around his cock, rippling along its length. “So damn good,” he muttered.

He was trying to exercise some control, trying to give her some time, but his patience was shot.

Cole pulled back a few inches and then thrust forward again. Cherise moaned and pushed her hips back to meet him as he did it again. Oh yeah, this is what he wanted. He tortured them both by moving slowly at first, taking pleasure each time he sank back into her wet heat.

His balls were heavy and taut and his cock was almost ready to burst with wanting her. Their breathing got heavier and the air around them thickened. The erotic slap of his pelvis against her ass as he shoved inward again and again pushed him closer to the edge.