Her scent doesn't help me get my wolf in check. It's like apples and sunshine, even better than I remembered. Intoxicating. I don't pick up the scent of pregnancy, but it would be too early. I bury my face in her shoulder, drag my lips up the column of her neck. My cock, already heavy from the mere sight of her, stiffens in my pants.
"Sedona, beautiful she-wolf, why are you afraid of me?"
She is afraid-trembling even-and that's the part that makes me a sick fuck for not letting go of her. But I can't make myself, because now that she's in my arms, I'm incapable of releasing her. Her back presses against my chest with each breath she takes, and I have the perfect view of her cleavage, rising and falling. I'm reassured by the fact that her nipples are hard, tenting her thin fitted t-shirt.
Her body remembers its master.
Drunk on the feel of her, I slide my palm inside her shirt, up to one hand-sized breast, which I squeeze and knead, memorizing the weight, the size, the softness.
Her breath whooshes out on an exhale. "G-get off me." Her voice doesn't match the words and my wolf doesn't believe her.
"Do you think I would ever hurt you, beautiful?" I nip her earlobe.
The scent of her arousal reaches my nostrils and I breathe deep.
"N-no."
"Did you just want to make me chase you?" I bring the fingers of my other hand to cup her mons, pressing my middle finger into the seam of her shorts.
Her head falls back and she lets out a breathy moan that goes straight to my cock.
Even through the material of her shorts and panties, I note her growing dampness as I press my fingers against her heat. "I will always give chase, ángel." I scrape my teeth over her shoulder, over the place I marked her less than a week ago. "Because you belong to me."
She stiffens and I realize immediately my colossal mistake. "I do not belong to you." This time when she pulls away, I reluctantly release her. "Just because you marked me, doesn't mean you own me. That's why I ran."
She shoves her key into the lock, but her fingers tremble too much to get it in the first time, giving me a few precious seconds to try to regain footing.
"Sedona. I'm sorry." I slap my hand over the lock before she can try again. "That's not what I meant. My wolf is growling to reclaim you, that's all." I lean my other hand against the door, caging her between my arms, crowding her against the door with the heat of my torso. "I'm not so stupid or chauvinistic to think I have any rights to you. I came because I wanted to make sure you were all right. I couldn't stay away."
"Well, you're going to have to. I need space, Carlos." She turns, her soft curves brushing against my clothes, setting flames ablaze everywhere she touches. She puts a hand on my chest and tries to shove. She's an alpha she-wolf, so she's strong, but I still don't budge.
"Don't make me call my brother, Carlos. One word from me and he'll rip you apart."
I hate the direction this is going. I fucked everything up. Her brother might try, but I'm certain no wolf could keep me away from Sedona, if I'm under challenge. But I don't want to fight her family. "You could have sent him after me at Monte Lobo, but you didn't."
Her bravado cracks and pain flits over her face. "You let me go," she whispers.
I can't decide if she's thanking me or admonishing me. The idea that she wouldn't want to be released never occurred to me, and believing she might have been hurt by my actions makes me want to stab a knife through my chest. But she wouldn't have wanted to stay. That's impossible.
The agony of not knowing what she means makes me bold. Without touching her with my hands, I crush my mouth over hers, pushing until her head bumps the door. Once I have leverage, I lick into her lips, twisting mine and tilting my head for the best angle.
If she hadn't kissed me back, I would have retreated-no matter what my wolf wanted-but she melts into the kiss, her tongue meeting mine, lips moving against mine. Until she bites my lower lip, hard enough to draw blood.
I freeze as she holds it fast, tugging backward. When she releases it, there's a blaze of anger and defiance in her beautiful blue eyes. "Back off, Carlos."
I immediately retreat, hands in the air.
Fuck. Stop thinking with your dick, asshole.
"Sedona, please. No claims on you. I just want"-I rack my brain for right thing to say- "A date with you. Let me take you to dinner-to breakfast-anything. Meet me in a public place. I won't touch you, I just want a chance to be near you. To talk. Please?"
Sedona nods, but she's ducking her head back to the door, not meeting my eye. "Yeah, okay. Tomorrow night. Seven o'clock." She unlocks her door and steps into her apartment, clicking it shut without a backward glance.
My wolf fist pumps, but my brain knows better. She has no intention of meeting me tomorrow. She just said whatever it took to end the conversation.
I tunnel my fingers through my hair and stare at the tile floor of the hallway.
Carajo.
I won her body with the help of the full moon and a confined space. But how do I win her heart?
Sedona
Three a. m., my alarm goes off. I'm up, out of bed and dragging out my small purple rolly-suitcase. The same one I'd taken to San Carlos just over a week ago. A lifetime ago.
If I were smart, I'd go to the bank and drain my accounts to take cash, but there's no time. I found a flight to Paris at quarter to seven, and I plan to be on it. I need to get out of town, out of the country, now.